Former player was invited by the Azerbaijani government to an event on climate change
Ronaldinho Gaúcho, former football player, was invited by the government of Azerbaijan to the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The information came to light after the discovery of a credential with his name and that of his brother, Roberto de Assis Moreira. released the information on Tuesday (12.nov.2024).
Ronaldinho’s presence at COP29 generated questions among journalists and environmentalists. They sought clarification on the specific events in which the former athlete would participate.
The concern was that his image could be used in public relations events linked to the oil and gas industries. These industries are often criticized for their contribution to global warming. Host country Azerbaijan faces criticism for hosting the event without an effective commitment to reducing its fossil fuel production.
Ronaldinho Gaúcho has a history of visiting oil-producing regions, including participating in friendlies in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, in addition to his presence at the Qatar World Cup in 2022. Environmental NGOs have expressed concern about the strategy of oil-producing countries in co-opt popular idols to improve your image.
Claudio Ângelo, international policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory, compared the tactic to the tobacco industry. “The oil lobby is the new cigarette, because they are co-opting all the youth idols to try to sell as OK the economic model of these countries, which is completely anchored in the production and consumption of fossil fuels,” said Angelo.
He also mentioned Cristiano Ronaldo, currently playing for Saudi Arabia, as another example of a personality co-opted by the oil industry.
