Activists interrupt New York Times climate event with protest against oil CEO

A group of activists disrupted an interview with Occidental Petroleum's CEO at a New York Times event, accusing her of "ecocide" and demanding an end to fossil fuels.

Keerti Gopal and Jake Bolster report for Inside Climate News.


In short:

  • Climate Defiance activists protested during an interview with Occidental Petroleum’s CEO, accusing the company of harming the environment.
  • The protest halted the event briefly; 10 demonstrators were arrested by the NYPD.
  • The activists argued that fossil fuel executives shouldn’t be platformed at climate events.

Key quote:

“Climate criminals should not be allowed in polite society. It is outrageous that the New York Times is hosting a fossil fuel CEO at a supposed climate event.”

— Michael Greenberg, Climate Defiance

Why this matters:

Activists are intensifying their actions against fossil fuel companies to raise awareness about greenwashing and the urgent need to transition away from oil and gas. These disruptions signal growing frustration over the perceived lack of meaningful climate action.

Related: Occidental Petroleum's net-zero claims met with skepticism

A stack of three oil barrels on top of a one hundred dollar bill against a blue background

Canadian oil executives’ stock holdings increased by over $1B amid war and wildfires

Executives at Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Suncor, and Imperial Oil saw their personal stock holdings and options skyrocket this year, according to a DeSmog analysis.
An illustration of comment boxes with happy, sad and angry faces in them

As Ohio grapples with fake comments on clean energy, some want crackdown

A troubling trend has shown up in some communities around the U.S.: Public officials are being inundated with seemingly fake public feedback that aims to block renewable energy and promote fossil fuels.
Woman carrying a sign saying There is no planet B

British politicians vastly overestimate opposition to climate action

A new study of British MPs finds a persistent gap between what lawmakers believe the public thinks about climate policy and what polls actually show. The misperception may be holding climate legislation back.
An urban farm growing on a roof with a city skyline in the background

How urban farming in America has grown

Farms within cities and towns have always been a key source of food security in the United States. How will they evolve?
A view into the corridor of a snowy mountain with fog in the distance

As glaciers melt, can communities be protected?

Rising temperatures are increasing the risk of floods and avalanches in mountain regions. The disaster in Nepal and Tibet shows the urgent need for solutions, and the tools that could help save lives.
An illustration of a bar chart with a gas dispenser floating above it

US to announce sharply lower vehicle fuel economy requirements

The Trump administration will soon announce sharply lower vehicle fuel-economy standards, reversing a push by the prior administration to force automakers to build more fuel-efficient vehicles, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says.

The interior of a data center with rows of black servers stretching into the distance

Private gas plants to power data centers would skirt Nevada’s renewable energy law

A data center developer is seeking approval for two private gas-fired power plants near Reno, Nevada, raising concerns that large energy users could sidestep Nevada’s renewable energy requirements.

From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.