Greta Thunberg has joined an environmental protest in London that attempts to “block” a fossil fuel conference taking place at a hotel in Mayfair.
The Swedish activist, 20, joined protestors gathered ouside the Energy Intelligence Forum at the Intercontinental Hotel in Hamilton Place.
Fossil Free London activists banged drums and chanted “oily, oily money, out, out, out” as they blocked the entrance to the hotel, carrying banners reading “make polluters pay” and “stop the drilling”.
Some of the speakers at the conference include COP28 President-delegate Dr Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber – who is also CEO of the United Arab Emirates’ state-owned oil firm – net zero minister Graham Stuart, former climate change minister Charles Hendry and senior figures from energy firms BP, Shell, Repsol and ExxonMobil.
Its agenda includes a discussion on whether the COP climate change gathering is “still relevant”.
Thunberg, speaking at the guerilla protest, said: “The people in power are knowingly leading us to the edge of the precipice. They know very well the invaluable things they are sacrificing in order for them to continue squeezing out profits from a dying planet. We cannot let this continue. The elites of the Oil & Money conference, they have no intention of transition. Their plan is to continue this destructive search of profits.
“That is why we have to take direct action to stop this and to kick oily money out of politics. We have no other option but to put our bodies outside this conference and to physically disrupt.
“We have to do that every time. We have to continue showing them that they are not going to get away with this. This is only the beginning of this fight and we are going to stay and we are going to come back time and time again until we see real action.
“We cannot rely on politicians and the people in power to save us. They have proven time and time again that they always prioritise the fossil fuel industry and destructive industries above people, above their own citizens.”
