On Tuesday, Greta Thunberg and other climate activists were detained by British police as they gathered outside a central London hotel to disrupt a major oil and gas industry conference. This disruption took place at the luxury InterContinental hotel on Park Lane, where the Energy Intelligence Forum is being held. The conference includes speakers such as the CEOs of Shell, Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, Norway’s Equinor, and the UK’s energy security minister. Thunberg and approximately 10 other activists were seen being led away by officers and taken into a police vehicle, as reported by the AP photographer.
Protesters attempted to block access to the conference venue by sitting on the sidewalk by the entrance. They held up banners with messages such as “Oily money out!” and “Cancel the conference!,” while some lit yellow and pink smoke flares. Additionally, two Greenpeace activists descended from the hotel’s roof to unveil a large banner that read “Make Big Oil Pay.” London’s Metropolitan Police initially arrested six people on suspicion of obstructing a highway during the protest. The police then detained an additional 14 individuals on suspicion of disrupting public order, while one person was detained for criminal damage. The police had discussions with the protesters about allowing safe access to the venue and preventing significant disruption to the hotel and its guests, but some activists refused to move from the road. As of now, no charges have been filed.
The protesters accuse fossil fuel companies of purposely impeding the global energy transition to renewable sources in order to increase their profits. Thunberg stated to reporters before her detainment, “The world is drowning in fossil fuels. Our hopes, dreams, and lives are being washed away by a flood of greenwashing and lies. It has been evident for decades that the fossil fuel industries were fully aware of the consequences of their business models, yet they have taken no action.”
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“We cannot allow this to continue,” she added. “The attendees of the oil and money conference have no intention of transitioning. We have no choice but to physically disrupt this conference and demonstrate our resistance. We must do this every time, continually showing them that they will not get away with it.” The police took those detained into custody, and officers remain at the scene. Environmental groups have pledged to continue protesting throughout the planned forum, which is expected to last three days. (Read more Greta Thunberg stories.)
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