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Fossil Free London activists, alongside Greta Thunberg, staged a noisy protest outside Guildhall in the City of London to disrupt Rishi Sunak’s speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet on Monday 13 November. It was about the Prime Minister’s climate-destroying plans contained in the King’s Speech.
Thunberg joins other activists in targeting mayor’s banquet
The new Lord Mayor, who is the ceremonial head of the City of London and serves as the international spokesman for London’s financial sector, was sworn in earlier this week in a quiet ceremony that was also disrupted by Fossil Free London protesters.
The Prime Minister was invited to deliver the keynote address at the banquet where bankers and business leaders celebrated the incumbent mayor.
Activists gathered around each entrance to City Hall chanting “Stop Rosebank”, banging pots and pans and playing drums to drown out the Prime Minister’s speech:
London, United Kingdom. November 13, 2023 – Fossil Free London demonstrators gather outside the Lord Mayor’s Banquet, also attended by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, to protest against new oil and gas licenses and the approval of the Rosebank oil field. Photo credit: Andrea Domeniconi/Fossil Free London
London, United Kingdom. November 13, 2023 – Fossil Free London demonstrators gather outside the Lord Mayor’s Banquet, also attended by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, to protest against new oil and gas licenses and the approval of the Rosebank oil field. Photo credit: Andrea Domeniconi/Fossil Free London
Sunak’s appearance comes after the British government promised earlier this week to allow new annual licensing rounds for oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, as outlined in the King’s Speech.
Thunberg supported Fossil Free London:
London, United Kingdom. November 13, 2023 – Fossil Free London demonstrators gather outside the Lord Mayor’s Banquet, also attended by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, to protest against new oil and gas licenses and the approval of the Rosebank oil field. Photo credit: Andrea Domeniconi/Fossil Free London
There was a small police presence during the Thunberg and Fossil Free London campaign:
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London, United Kingdom. November 13, 2023 – Fossil Free London demonstrators gather outside the Lord Mayor’s Banquet, also attended by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, to protest against new oil and gas licenses and the approval of the Rosebank oil field. Photo credit: Andrea Domeniconi/Fossil Free London
Sunak: “Maximizing” the climate crisis
The Prime Minister has been keen in recent months to make clear his determination to “maximise” the North Sea’s fossil fuel reserves. However, Guardian environmental editor Fiona Harvey wrote:
This clearly contradicts the advice of experts. The International Energy Agency, at the request of the UK, warned in 2021 ahead of the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow that such expansion should not take place anywhere in order to remain within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The UK government claims this move aims to ensure energy security and lower bills for British households, although research from Uplift argues it will achieve neither. The oil or gas produced is sold on an international market, meaning production does not affect UK prices or ensure our supply of it.
London’s financial sector, which was well represented at the banquet, financed almost double the emissions produced by the entire UK in 2019. A WWF report states:
Just one subset of the UK financial sector was responsible for financing 805 million tonnes of carbon emissions through its lending and investment activities in 2019. This is equivalent to 1.8 times the UK’s annual net emissions and threatens the government’s plans to lead by example at COP26.
To put it bluntly, if the UK banks and investors in this study were a country, they would be the ninth largest carbon emitter in the world – ahead of Germany, illustrating the scale of the problem.
“Sold us a dangerous pipe dream”
Joanna Warrington, spokesperson for Fossil Free London, said:
Sunak and his climate-destroying government are selling the British public a dangerous pipe dream. They falsely promise energy security through the development of new oil and gas reserves, the implementation of which would only mean complete climate catastrophe and an unsafe, warming world for all of us who live in it.
As Sunak dines with the Lord Mayor, bankers and business leaders at the heart of this country’s obscene wealth; We are out there with a clear message. We want a future worth living; and safe, affordable, renewable energy for all.
Fossil Free London is a grassroots climate group campaigning for a London beyond fossil fuels, envisioning a cleaner, greener city for its residents and people around the world suffering the loss and damage of the climate crises caused in London. Instagram: @fossilfreelondon Twitter: @fossilfreeldn.
Feature image and additional images via Fossil Free London
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