Posted on 10/17/2023 11:50:12 PM PDT by nickcarraway
‘Oscars of oil’: What is the Energy Intelligence Forum and why are activists trying to shut it down?
Greta Thunberg has been arrested while disrupting a major oil industry conference in London today.
The Swedish activist was detained by police after she joined hundreds of other protesters outside the Energy Intelligence Forum, which is taking place at the InterContinental London Park Lane hotel in Mayfair.
Executives of the world’s biggest oil and gas companies are taking part in the three-day conference which runs from 17-19 October, alongside financiers and UK ministers.
Until 2019, the event was more transparently called the Oil and Money conference. Climate campaigners say it remains “the Oscars of oil”, and are protesting the industry’s “business as usual” approach.
"The elite of the oil and money conference have no intention of transition," Greta Thunberg said at a press conference this morning. "Their plan is to continue this destructive surge of profits. That is why we have to take direct action."
The conference has attracted the attention of climate campaigners before. But under the guidance of a group which has promised to make the city inhospitable for the fossil fuel industry, 2023’s event is facing even fiercer protest.
Police said five people had been detained and were taken into custody earlier today.
"We need direct action to take back the power from the oil elite that has gathered here today behind closed doors," says Nuri Syed Corser, an organiser with Fossil Free London. "Arrests like these will not deter us. Our right to protest is our own, it is not given to us by the government.”
'We have the science on our side': Greta Thunberg defiant as she attends court October heatwave expected in parts of Europe after countries record hottest ever September What is the Energy Intelligence Forum? Since 1980 the Oil and Money conference, as it was originally known, has brought together leaders in the world of oil, gas, politics and finance to network and discuss challenges facing the energy sector. It is hosted by Energy Intelligence, a provider of energy news, data and analysis.
Under pressure in 2019 - following the withdrawal of long-term sponsor the New York Times which said the event’s subject matter “gives us cause for concern” - the summit was rebranded.
“The energy industry is changing, and as our conference program has evolved in recent years to address the challenges of climate change and the energy transition, we felt that our conference needed a new identity and a new mandate,” Energy Intelligence said at the time.
Hundreds of climate activists have gathered outside the hotel where the Energy Intelligence Forum is taking place. Hundreds of climate activists have gathered outside the hotel where the Energy Intelligence Forum is taking place.Fossil Free London This year’s event promises “a frank conversation around the central question: How does a divided world power the planet in a way that is reliable, affordable and clean?”
Speakers include the chiefs of a number of fossil fuel giants, including: Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Italian oil giant Eni, Amin Nasser, president and CEO of Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s biggest polluters, and Anders Opedal, President and CEO of Equinor, which is behind the controversial Rosebank oil field development in the UK.
Experience the thrill: Must-try adventure activities in the Philippines AD BY IPG MEDIABRANDS PHILIPPINES INC Experience the thrill: Must-try adventure activities in the Philippines The UK’s Minister of State for Energy Security and & Net Zero, Graham Stuart, will be speaking too, as will the country’s former Minister of Energy & Climate Change Charles Hendry.
Until recently, COP28 President and CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Sultan Al Jaber was also featured on the speakers list. But he now appears to have been dropped from the line-up.
COP28: EU to push for deal on phasing out 'unabated' fossil fuels at UN climate conference Has the COP28 chair pulled out of the London conference? Climate activists are claiming victory for the apparent withdrawal of Al Jaber from the conference, an aspect of the Energy Intelligence Forum they were particularly concerned by.
“It is beyond satire that an oil CEO has been made head of the global climate summit - the main opportunity for countries to get together and do something about climate, an opportunity that they squander every year, due to the influence of the fossil fuel industry,” says Wells.
“However we’ve had some great news in the fact that Al Jaber seems to be running scared from our protest,” adds Wells. “Apparently he can’t face this sort of accountability, just before his outing on the COP28 stage.”
Euronews Green has reached out to the Energy Intelligence Forum organisers to confirm whether Al Jaber is indeed no longer speaking, and why.
New World Bank president signals that time is up on billion euro subsidies for fossil fuels How are activists protesting the Energy Intelligence Forum? Under the Oily Money Out campaign, climate activists have planned three days of disruptive protests around the conference.
Big-name activists joined the first demonstration on Tuesday 17 October morning outside the luxury InterContinental hotel.
Greenpeace activists abseiled down from the roof of the hotel to unfurl a banner reading “make big oil pay."
Wednesday 18 will see another all-day protest against Rosebank oil extraction, timed to disrupt Equinor CEO Opedal, with music and speeches from high-profile activists.
And on Thursday 19 protesters will take to the streets from Marble Arch to Wellington Arch as part of a public ‘Festival of Resistance’, calling for an end to new oil and gas.
Greenpeace activists unfurl a banner reading "Make Big Oil Pay" from the roof of the InterContinental London Park Lane during the 'Oily Money Out' demonstration. Greenpeace activists unfurl a banner reading "Make Big Oil Pay" from the roof of the InterContinental London Park Lane during the 'Oily Money Out' demonstration.HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP Organisers say they expect at least a few hundred people to attend, with dozens of climate groups from across Europe travelling to London; such as StopEacop from Paris, Fridays for Future Sweden and XR Brussels.
Other disruptions are being kept secret for now, Fossil Free London indicates. The organisers also planned an extensive programme of training and workshops in the three days leading up to the event, from 14 to 16 October.
Activities included protest song learning, talks from Fuel Poverty Action, BP or Not BP, Stay Grounded and Climate in Colour, and even a birdwatching walk with Feminist Bird Club.
Surveillance, raids and arrests: Europe cracks down on ‘direct action’ climate protests From car-free zones to Arctic solar power: Positive environmental stories from 2023 Who are Fossil Free London? Fossil Free London “disrupts the oil industry where it gathers in our city, and this is a major moment for that to happen,” says Wells.
In attempting to make London inhospitable to the fossil fuel industry, the group has undertaken a range of direct actions, stunts and protests in recent months and years.
As part of its ‘Shut Down Shell’ campaign, activists disrupted the company’s AGM in May, attempting to storm the stage in front of shareholders. In June, members picketed the Shell’s HQ every weekday morning.
Oily Money Out is all about holding the oil industry accountable, says Wells.
Fossil Free London activists targeted King's Guard last month to protest the upcoming oil conference. Fossil Free London activists targeted King's Guard last month to protest the upcoming oil conference.Fossil Free London “The Oil and Money conference is the Oscars of oil - there’s even an awards ceremony every year which has previously been won by the [former] CEO of Shell, Ben van Beurden [Energy Executive of the Year, 2019].”
“We need to get their oily money out, and that starts with taking to the streets and making it very clear to them and to the wider population that they’re not welcome and business as usual has to change.”
In response to a request for comment, Energy Intelligence said that: "We involve all sides in this debate, as we believe that inclusive dialogue is the only way to solve the challenging questions involved in reinventing the world’s energy system.
"We are dedicated to bringing together stakeholders in the energy system - governments, companies, finance, civil society, and academia - to discuss the best way forward for the world.
"We are aware of the plans to protest, and the need for an inclusive dialogue is precisely why we host this event. The safety of everyone involved in the Forum is always our highest priority."
Wells points out that tickets to the conference cost more than £3,600 (€4,000).
I bet she used her private jet to fly there?!
😢
Hey Greta Thunberg - the term 'the elite' is NOT the same as 'the 1%'. It's a conservative term NOT some Marxist diatribe crap. So don't use the term. The elite refers to liberal idiots with more money than brains,... people like YOU and your parents Greta.
arrested ???
HOW DARE THEY !!!!!
*Apologies to Ray Stevens
*Apologies to Ray Stevens
Note her coat is made from petroleum based materials…how dare she.
That. Is. Hilarious.
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