Cumbrian climate activists join Greta Thunberg at London protest

The Energy Intelligence Forum, formerly known as the Oil and Money Conference, is a gathering of some of the world’s biggest names in the fossil fuel industry.

The three days of action, organised by Fossil Free London, brought together activists from across the UK and Europe, including Cumbria’s Extinction Rebellion chapter.

A Fossil Free London spokesperson said: "The fossil fuel industry sits at the polluted heart of the climate emergency.

“We want them and their oily money out. Out of our politics. Out of COP28. Out of our lives and futures.

“That's why we're targeting the biggest annual gathering of fossil fuel companies and inviting everyone concerned about the climate emergency to join our disruption.

“We will not sit by as oil companies destroy our communities and burn our only home for the sake of profit.”

On the first day of the conference, protesters including Greta Thunberg blocked the entrances to the venue, the Intercontinental Hotel at Hyde Park Corner, stopping delegates from entering.

Cumbrians sat on the pavement as part of the blockade for more than six hours.

Alison Parker of Extinction Rebellion North Lakes (XRNL) said: "It was a tough day sitting on the pavement for hours, but I think our message got through to the people who were trying to get into the conference.

“They're investing in the end of life on earth.

“I'm glad I took the day off work and travelled to London to be part of the action.”

On the second day, the group marched through the City of London to protest at the offices of potential insurers of the West Cumbria coal mine and the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

Activists from Cumbria occupied the buildings and addressed crowds in the street outside.

XR protestors in London last week (Image: XR)

Paul Nickells from XRNL said " The company that chooses to insure the coal mine operation is as complicit in the genocidal and ecocidal consequences as the developer who digs the pit.

“The warnings from scientists and energy experts are clear: we can have no new fossil fuel projects if we are to avoid the worst impacts of runaway climate breakdown.

“We need green jobs to be created in Cumbria, jobs that contribute to protecting life on earth, not destroying it.”

Climate activists assembled in Whitehaven yesterday (October 24) to protest the mine.

However, Mike Starkie, the former elected mayor of Copeland, has been a long-standing supporter of the mine.

He said in response to this week’s demonstration: "These people have no respect for the process this mine has gone through. 

"Everybody has had their opportunity, through a long and detailed process, to put the point of view forward.

"On every opportunity the mine has been given the go-ahead.

"If they were really concerned about climate change, they would be focusing their energy on places like Russia and China where the problem really lies, it is not in this country. 

"They are wasting time and getting in the way of getting these much-needed jobs into West Cumbria."

On the third day of action, the Cumbrians joined young activists from Norway to protest outside the Norwegian Embassy.

Norway's state-owned oil and gas company, Equinor, is behind the development of the new Rosebank oil and gas field in the North Sea, XR said, which was recently approved by the British government.