Brussels – Dozens of activists from 17 countries protested today at the European Parliament, a day before EU heads of government meet in Brussels to discuss energy prices and Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels, against a backdrop of rising energy bills and a summer of severe climate disasters across the continent.
The protests come as Greenpeace Belgium released new estimates that higher energy prices cost EU households an extra €61.5 billion between March and August, compared with the same months in 2021 – an extra €50 per month per household in the EU, on average.
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Climbers from Greenpeace Belgium scaled the European Parliament to hang banners reading “Burning gas ruins Europe” and “Wars, poverty, climate crisis: burning gas steals our future”, and used fake smoke to simulate fire. Meanwhile, activists from Extinction Rebellion Belgium and other groups gathered in Place du Luxembourg, where protest group Red Rebels held a performance symbolising the loss and destruction from fossil-fueled climate breakdown. In parallel, activists from Extinction Rebellion Belgium unfurled a large banner inside the European Parliament reading ‘Gas kills’.
Joining forces with other organisations as part of the ‘People vs Gas’ coalition, activists are urging the EU to end Europe’s dependency on fossil gas and to ensure safe, reliable and affordable energy for all. The coalition is demanding a short-term emergency plan to shield people from increasing energy costs, and a clear roadmap for Europe to phase out fossil gas by 2035.
Greenpeace EU climate and energy campaigner Thomas Gelin said: “Oil and gas companies are making obscene profits fueling wars, climate destruction and spiking people’s energy bills, and it’s time to put a stop to it. Burning gas ruined Europe this summer, with record-breaking temperatures killing thousands, and it threatens to financially ruin Europe again as household bills go through the roof this winter. EU politicians must get Europe off dirty and expensive fossil fuels, and onto renewable energy that can cut pollution while bringing down prices for ordinary people.”
Four-and-a-half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU is struggling to completely wean itself off Russian gas. The EU has increased imports of gas from the US and is also seeking gas imports from Canada as part of a new agreement. Greenpeace and the People vs Gas coalition are warning that continued reliance on fossil fuels, as well as destroying the environment, will exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis as research shows that oil and gas prices are the main drivers of inflation.
Political action needed
The People vs Gas coalition is calling on the EU and national governments to speed the transition away from fossil fuels and to a completely renewable energy system, urging European politicians to seize upcoming opportunities.
On 15 and 16 November, EU heads of state and government will meet at the EU summit in Brussels to discuss “measures to alleviate the impact of high energy prices” and plans “to reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels”.
European lawmakers will also soon deal with revisions of the EU’s rules on renewable energy and energy efficiency; energy security rules, including rules on gas storage; and the national contributions to the EU’s joint climate targets.
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Notes:
[1] Activists from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France,Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the US joined the People vs Gas coalition supported by Greenpeace Belgium and Extinction Rebellion Belgium, among others.
Contacts:
Thomas Gelin, Greenpeace EU climate and energy campaigner: +32 473 57 04 46, [email protected]
Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 2 274 1911, [email protected]
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: Bluesky
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. We do not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties. Greenpeace has over three million supporters, and 26 independent national and regional organisations with offices in more than 55 countries.
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