Biden’s chief climate diplomat,John Kerry,was blunt about America’s position on the issue during a press conference held not long after I spoke with Bassey.

“It’s a well known fact that the United States and many other countries will not establish a structure that is tied to compensation or liability. That’s just not happening.”

A few hours later Greenpeace put out a statement accusing not just the US,but a handful of nations including Australia,New Zealand and Norway of using “blocking language” on loss and damage in negotiations.

Yeb Saño,Greenpeace International’s COP27 Head of Delegation,was scathing on the issue.

“All the talk of deadlines and complexities about loss and damage is just code for climate delay,which is disappointing but not surprising. How to restore the trust lost between the Global North and Global South? Five words:Loss and Damage Finance Facility.”

But it wasn’t just loss and damage that was cruelling talks as the day went on.

Rumours soon spread that negotiators for a handful of nations were arguing that any agreement to come out of the talks should be stripped of references to holding warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees.

Kerry confirmed this during his press conference,saying while a small group of countries had raised the matter,he knew that Egypt,“doesn’t intend to be the country that hosts a retreat from what was achieved in the Glasgow”.

“So we will have those discussions during this week. But that is the adopted language and UNFCC and most countries here in general attention going backwards.”

But critics like Bassey already feel betrayed by Egypt. This was meant to be the African COP,he tells me. Instead it has become the gas industry’s COP.

Bassey,like others,believes that emboldened by Europe’s hunger for gas,the revived industry has infiltrated the meeting even more thoroughly than those before it.

One advocacy group has counted over 600 oil and gas lobbyists registered to attend the COP,some of whom who have been invited to join national delegations. This is more than attended the far larger talks in Glasgow last year.

Among those is BP’s boss Bernard Looney who was listed as a delegate for Mauritania,giving him access to the conference’s Blue Zone at the conference,an area reserved for government delegations and negotiations. The BBC has reported that Looney was invited by the Mauritanians for a signing ceremony and has left.

“At every session[the gas lobby presence] is very clear,” says Nnimmo. “They’re not talking about the fundamental issues. They’re not planning to stop dependence on fossil fuels. “There’s a big dash for gas in Africa,especially with the war in Europe.

“We’re seeing everything turning upside down. And the African politicians are here to promote a new kind of carbon market. In other words,it’s all about business.”

Asked by theHerald andThe Age about the criticism,ambassador Wael Aboulmagd,special representative of the COP27 president,said each fossil lobbyist present had to pass a high bar to gain registration,including demonstrating that their organisation has a viable decarbonisation plan.

He said climate polluting industries needed to be part of the COP conversation.

“But to your point,whether[their presence] affects outcomes,I can assure you we won’t allow it.”

Hare notes that it is not uncommon for tempers to fray in the middle of these mammoth two-week negotiations. By the time the middle weekend starts the excitment and drama of the leaders’ summit that starts the events has faded and diplomatic staff have been locked in small rooms for long hours.

Their ministers are due to arrive for briefings on progress made,before the second ministerial week begins.

Even so,he says,the presence of the fossil lobby at COP is undeniable,and the frustration of those dedicated to undoing its influence understandable.

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