Edelman, the world’s largest public relations agency, is in talks to support the upcoming UN climate summit in Brazil despite its previous work with a trade group accused of pushing for weaker Amazon protections.
In short:
- Cop30, the UN climate summit set for November in Belém, Brazil, may hire Edelman, a PR firm that previously worked with the Brazilian soy industry’s trade group, Abiove.
- Abiove has been linked to efforts to amend a moratorium on Amazon deforestation, and some of its members, including Cargill and JBS, have faced scrutiny for sourcing soy from deforested land.
- Edelman has ongoing contracts with major fossil fuel companies and has faced criticism for potential conflicts of interest in its climate-related work.
Key quote:
“Edelman’s conflicts of interest at a climate conference are almost too many to count.”
— Duncan Meisel, executive director of Clean Creatives
Why this matters:
The Amazon rainforest plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate, yet it continues to face threats from deforestation driven by agriculture. Concerns are mounting over the influence of corporate interests on high-profile climate discussions. The decision to hire a public relations firm with ties to industries known for environmental rollbacks raises questions about the credibility of the summit’s messaging. If companies with a financial stake in deforestation gain sway over climate negotiations, the effectiveness of proposed protections could be compromised, critics warn.
This tension between economic growth and environmental stewardship is not new in Brazil, where the Amazon’s vast resources have long been a battleground between conservationists and industries seeking to exploit them. But with global climate targets at stake, the integrity of these discussions has implications far beyond the rainforest, affecting worldwide efforts to combat climate change.
Related: Amazon rainforest at risk of significant transformation by mid-century, study indicates
