Ravenna, Italy – As Italy and much of Europe are entering the heatwave season with scorching temperatures already being recorded, 12 activists from seven countries are taking action with Greenpeace Italy against climate-wrecking fossil gas at the new liquefied gas import terminal of Ravenna. At sea, activists reached the infrastructure and attached large banners on it reading \u201cBurn, baby, burn\u201d referencing President Trump\u2019s mantra \u201cDrill, baby, drill\u201d alongside an image of a burning Earth flanked by the faces of US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.<\/p>\n\n
Photos and videos are available in the <\/strong>Greenpeace Media Library<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n At the same time, activists are protesting in kayaks holding a road sign depicting the choice EU leaders need to take between climate hell and a fossil-free future. The action targets Italy\u2019s recent pledge to increase imports of liquefied fossil gas from the US. An alliance that deepens Europe\u2019s fossil fuel dependence and vulnerability to political blackmail from Trump.[1]<\/p>\n\n Federico Spadini, climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace Italy said: <\/strong>\u201cWhile the country scorches under record heat, Meloni chooses to side with Trump and sabotage Italy\u2019s climate action. This toxic alliance puts Italy\u2019s energy future in the hands of Trump and locks the country further into a dangerous gas dependency that fuels the climate crisis, drives up our energy bills and turns our homes into ovens.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n Italy is reportedly Europe\u2019s fourth largest importer of liquefied fossil gas with Qatar and the US being the primary suppliers. Despite the fact that liquefied gas (LNG) imports fell by 12% in 2024 according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), the Italian government has pushed for additional LNG import capacity with the new gas import terminal (FSRU) in Ravenna which started operations earlier this year.[2] The protest also comes in the middle of the Greenpeace campaign against oil and gas giants like the Italian ENI, the same company that launched a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) targeting Greenpeace Italy, Greenpeace Netherlands and Italian NGO ReCommon.[3]<\/p>\n\n \u201cWhile Meloni is making dirty deals with Trump, ENI threatens to silence those who dare to speak out and advocate for a renewable energy future\u2014putting profit before people, and deepening a toxic pattern of repression and fossil fuel dependence,\u201d<\/em> added Spadini.<\/p>\n\n Accelerating the transition to renewable energy is not only an environmental imperative; it is a matter of security, said campaigner Lisa G\u00f6ldner, who is currently on board the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise on an expedition across Europe to expose the risks of fossil gas and to mobilise for a fossil-free energy future.[4]<\/p>\n\n Lisa G\u00f6ldner, Greenpeace Germany campaigner with the European <\/strong>Fossil-Free Future<\/em><\/strong> campaign said: <\/strong>\u201cEvery new gas import terminal, every new fossil gas purchase agreement is locking Europe further into a gas trap that threatens Europe\u2019s security and independence. Fossil gas fuels the climate crisis and geopolitical conflict and makes Europe vulnerable to political blackmail. The EU must break free from its fossil fuel dependency and take control of its future by investing in a renewable, secure and peaceful energy system.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n \u201cRather than weakening methane regulations and handing a \u2018free pass\u2019 to US gas, as is currently being considered, EU leaders have to up their game: agree on a full phase-out of fossil gas by 2035 at the latest and ban all new fossil fuel projects in the EU.\u201d[5]<\/em><\/p>\n\n Greenpeace is calling for a phase-out of fossil gas through a transition to renewable energy that allows everyone to meet their energy needs at a decent price, without harming people, the planet or the environment.<\/p>\n\n ENDS<\/p>\n\n Photos and videos are available in the <\/strong>Greenpeace Media Library<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n [1] United States \u2013 Italy joint leader\u2019s statement<\/a>, 17 April 2025.<\/p>\n\n [2] IEEFA: European LNG Tracker<\/a>, \u201cItaly\u2019s incentive scheme for gas investment must confront falling demand\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n [3] ENI Strikes Again: A Textbook Environmental SLAPP | CASE<\/a><\/p>\n\n [4] Last weekend the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise was anchored in Venice where 650 people visited the ship and took action to stop fossil gas. On Monday, activists from the UK action group Everyone hates Elon and Greenpeace Italy took action in Venice<\/a> just days before the high-profile wedding of billionaire Jeff Bezos. Greenpeace Italy\u2019s protests this week are denouncing billionaire and corporate greed, as well as toxic political alliances and fossil fuel expansion \u2013 all of which are driving humanity deeper into climate chaos. <\/p>\n\n Today\u2019s protest took place as Greenpeace\u2019s Fossil-Free Future campaign carries out its \u2018Stop Fossil Gas\u2019<\/em> expedition across Europe. This year, the campaign is visiting several European countries aboard the iconic Arctic Sunrise<\/em> to spark debate about Europe’s energy system; question its dependence on fossil gas; and promote a just and fair phase-out of fossil gas through a transition to renewable energy that allows everyone to meet their energy needs at a decent price, without harming people, the planet or the environment. Greenpeace is gathering support for a ban on all new fossil gas -and fossil fuel- infrastructure projects in the EU. The Fossil-Free Future campaign\u2019s Open Letter<\/a> to the EU and national governments has already gathered 80.000 signatures.<\/p>\n\n [5] Scientists urge EU to resist methane lobbying | Sustainable Views<\/a><\/p>\n\n Contacts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Manon Laudy, Press Officer, Fossil-Free Future Campaign, Greenpeace Netherlands, +336 49 15 69 83, mlaudy@greenpeace.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n