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

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