The Swedish climate activist was arrested amid a crackdown by the UK government on ‘disruptive’ protests.
ADVERTISEMENTGreta Thunberg and four other climate activists are due to appear in court today after being arrested at a protest outside a gathering of fossil fuel bosses in London last October.
The action was part of Oily Money Out – a series of disruptions against the carbon emissions, political influence and lobbying of the fossil fuel companies and banks attending the Energy Intelligence Forum by the group Fossil Free London.
The annual meeting of energy companies hosted executives of the biggest fossil fuel firms as well as politicians.
The Swedish climate activist was detained while demonstrating with hundreds of other protesters outside the Energy Intelligence Forum, at the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel in Mayfair. They attempted to block the entrance of the hotel before they were escorted away by police.
After being released, Thunberg returned the next day to take part in a protest outside of the same hotel with hundreds of other people.
A demonstration took place outside Westminster Magistrates Court this morning in solidarity with those on trial. Protesters held signs and banners reading «Climate protest is not a crime» and «Who are the real criminals?».
UK ‘crackdown’ on climate protests
Five activists including Thunberg were charged with failing to comply with a condition imposed under section 14 of the Public Order Act for allegedly failing to move when asked to by police.
The two activists from Greenpeace, two from Fossil Free London and Thunberg all pleaded not guilty at an initial hearing in November last year.
The trial is expected to take two days with the activists facing a maximum fine of up to £2,500 (€2,932).
The arrests came amid a UK government crackdown on “disruptive” protests which saw the UN Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders criticise the country’s “regressive new laws”.
Then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman made controversial changes to public order and policing legislation that expanded police powers to deal with the kind of protests favoured by climate activists.
«The disconnect is alarming. Greenpeace activists are on trial today for peacefully protesting against Big Oil’s pernicious influence on our politics. Meanwhile, Shell executives are celebrating making billions from selling climate-wrecking fossil fuels,» says Maja Darlington, Campaigner at Greenpeace UK.
“The prosecution of Greta and other peaceful protesters reflects a government that cares more about bolstering the profits of oil bosses than fighting for a livable future for all of us.
«Instead of cracking down on climate activists, the UK government should force Shell and the rest of the oil industry to stop drilling and start paying for the damage they are causing to our planet and everyone who lives on it.”
Greta Thunberg has been arrested several times over the last year during climate protests across Europe.
In October she was fined by a Swedish court for disobeying police at a demonstration at an oil terminal in Malmo. It was the second time she had been fined in Sweden for a similar offence.
The Swedish climate activist admitted to the facts but denied guilt adding that the fight against the fossil fuel industry was a form of self-defence due to the existential and global threat of the climate crisis.
After the verdict, she said she would continue to protest even if it “leads to more sentences”.
