The beginning of this controversial period was
The presence of researchers funded or employed by Saudi Arabia's national oil company at the core of the global climate documentation process has become a subject of intense debate in the scientific community. This situation was brought to public attention through an extensive journalistic investigation that highlighted the close links between the authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) main reports and Saudi oil interests. At first glance, it may seem paradoxical that experts assessing emission reduction policies should also be part of the structures that generate these emissions. However, detailed analysis has shown that this phenomenon is not isolated but reflects a structural trend in the selection of experts for the Seventh Assessment Report of the IPCC.
The beginning of this controversial period was marked by a personal meeting between Professor Julia Steinberger, representing the University of Lausanne, and Dr. Mustafa Babiker, a veteran of the oil industry. On the first day Steinberger participated as an expert author in the papers for the fundamental climate reports, she sat at a stranger's table for breakfast. In presenting himself, he mentioned his academic affiliation, and the interlocutor replied that he was Mustafa Babiker, an associate of Saudi Aramco. For many, this state-owned company is responsible for more carbon emissions than any other corporate entity in history, and the kingdom has, over time, been one of the main obstacles to coordinated international climate action. Steinberger asked if there was any conflict of interest, given that the IPCC produces the reports that underlie UN negotiations and national climate policy around the world.
According to Steinberger's recollections, Babiker replied in the affirmative, stating that his relationship had been stated on the IPCC's official conflict of interest form. Although the answer did not seem convincing enough at the time, the friendly atmosphere enabled a pleasant conversation.
I 'm going to tell you something . Babiker has been working professionally at Aramco for two decades. His appointment as the lead author and coordinator for the forthcoming Seventh Assessment Report sparked waves in the climate science community last year. However, the new investigation, conducted in partnership with a team of international journalists, showed that his case is just the tip of the iceberg. At least a dozen IPCC lead authors are employed or have direct links to Saudi Aramco, Saudi institutions or other oil and gas interests. Furthermore, one of the IPCC's vice-presidents, a member of the body's steering committee, represents the kingdom in global climate negotiations as a government official.
The IPCC is recognized as the most authoritative organization in climate science
The IPCC is recognized as the most authoritative organization in climate science, with its reports endorsed by 195 countries. The papers are produced by hundreds of leading authors from around the world, with fields ranging from atmospheric physics to the impact of extreme weather events. The investigation focused on the 223 lead authors in Working Group III, the IPCC section assessing ways to reduce or remove emissions from the atmosphere. This segment is crucial as it analyses air purification policies and technologies, having direct implications for the economic interests of States and companies. Working Groups I and II also cover the science of climate change and its effects. The study identified 20 cases with significant conflicts of interest concerns. More than half of these cases involved authors linked to Saudi institutions, a focus that raises broad questions about the kingdom's influence on how reports are produced.
The IPCC's policy on conflicts of interest has been described by experts who have considered the investigation to be 'inappropriate for its purpose'.
Another Aramco employee selected as lead author is Dr. Diego Armando Moya Pinta, working as an energy and sustainability scientist at the company from 2022. On the IPCC website, his affiliation is listed exclusively as Imperial College London, where he holds an honorary senior research position. As one of the 14 principal authors of the chapter on energy systems, Moya Pinta will assess options for reducing emissions in the energy sector, an area with direct implications for Aramco's business. Prof. Kevin Elliott, an academic at Michigan State University specializing in research ethics, argued that there should be no doubt that such a case would frame the policy of conflict of interest.