Activists urge insurers to cut ties with fossil fuels in London protests

Thousands gathered in London to demand that insurance companies stop underwriting fossil fuel projects, emphasizing their pivotal role in the climate crisis.

Keerti Gopal reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

Protesters, led by Extinction Rebellion, targeted insurers like Lloyd's of London and Marsh McLennan, urging them to halt support for oil, gas and coal developments.
Activists used creative tactics, such as a mock auction of "the world's last potato," to illustrate the human and economic toll of climate inaction.
Campaigners pointed to small wins, like policy changes by Zurich Insurance Group, while decrying slow industry-wide progress.

Key quote:

“The weak spot of the fossil fuel industry is insurance. If we can persuade as many insurers as possible to pull out of these projects, we have a real chance of actually stopping those projects, and that’s ultimately what the goal is.”

— Marijn van de Geer, Extinction Rebellion activist

Why this matters:

Insurance underpins fossil fuel development, making the industry a critical target for climate activists. Without insurance, new oil and gas projects cannot proceed, potentially curbing global emissions and mitigating climate-driven disasters.

insideclimatenews.org

Activists urge insurers to cut ties with fossil fuels in London protests

Trump has spent billions on energy. An electricity boom has yet to materialize

How companies have abandoned their climate goals and let themselves off the hook

Feds increasingly leave local governments hanging when climate disasters hit, report finds

As climate extremes collide, attribution science evolves

New Jersey law will let data centers pay for home energy upgrades

New leader of major US climate program doesn’t believe the science

Interactive map predicts climate-driven farm decline by end of century

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.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

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

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

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.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

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