Climate change: elimination Rebellion blocks Shell’s Aberdeen HQ

Extinction Rebellion protesters have blocked the entrances to Shell’s Aberdeen headquarters.

Activists arrived on the Altens base at about 06:30 and plan to stay on the website all day “to hold Shell to account”.

The group mentioned the protest was a part of its two-week lengthy marketing campaign concentrating on the fossil gasoline trade. Shell mentioned it was addressing its emissions and serving to prospects to scale back theirs.

And trade physique Oil and Fuel UK (OGUK) mentioned local weather change wouldn’t be solved by “stunts”. Extinction Rebellion additionally had its purple boat on the website.

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The protesters plan to stroll by means of Aberdeen metropolis centre, beginning on the railway station at 13:00, then going by way of Union St and the harbour.

An announcement from Extinction Rebellion Scotland mentioned: “As Australia burns and Indonesia is flooded, with tens of thousands made homeless, the purple boat bears the words, “The Future You Worry Is Already Right here”, a reminder that catastrophic local weather change is already underneath approach throughout the planet, pushed by Shell and the remainder of the fossil gasoline trade.

“Final week, as bushfires brought on by local weather change choked Australia, Shell celebrated the invention of an enormous new fuel subject off the coast of Western Australia.

The assertion added that it was disrupting enterprise as traditional for Shell because it was “one of the top 10 carbon emitters in the world, and is projected to increase their output of oil and gas by 35% over the next 10 years”.

One of many protesters, Michael, a 57-year-old administration marketing consultant, mentioned: “Governments and companies like Shell all agree that my kids are going through a catastrophic local weather and ecological collapse but are doing subsequent to nothing to forestall this.

“I’m here today because as a parent I am ultimately responsible for the safety of my children whether today, tomorrow or in 30 years time.”

A Shell spokesman mentioned: “The heightened consciousness of local weather change that we’ve got seen over current months is an efficient factor. ”

As an organization, we agree that pressing motion is required. What’s going to actually speed up change is efficient coverage, funding in expertise innovation and deployment, and altering buyer behaviour.

“As we move to a lower-carbon future, we are committed to playing our part, by addressing our own emissions and helping customers to reduce theirs – because we all have a role to play.”

‘Taking motion’

OGUK communications director Gareth Wynn mentioned: “Climate change will probably be solved by sensible actions not conspiracy theories and stunts.

“It is disappointing that this group is selecting to disrupt the traditional working day of individuals on this trade, inflicting alarm relatively than have interaction in significant dialogue with key determination makers.

“Our industry is packed full of people with the engineering and environmental knowledge and skills to play a key part in reducing emissions and we are already taking action.”

Ch Insp Davie Howieson, native space commander for Aberdeen South, mentioned: “Officers are at the moment in attendance at a peaceable protest in Wellington Highway, Aberdeen, exterior the Shell premises.

“The road was blocked from around 06:45, and road users are advised to avoid the area for the time being. We are liaising with both Shell and the protest organisers, Extinction Rebellion.”

Employees at oil firm EnQuest in Aberdeen have been despatched house as a “precautionary measure” forward of the deliberate protest stroll by means of town centre.