On Thursday, four climate protesters from Greenpeace were arrested. They draped the home of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in northern England with black cloth.?
The Greenpeace activists climbed onto the roof of Sunak's large constituency home in Richmond, North Yorkshire. They unfurled 200 square meters of "oil-black fabric" to cover one side of the mansion.
"Officers have contained the area, and no one has entered the building. The PM and his family are not at home," the police said.
The four protesters finally climbed down from the roof after around three hours. They were then led away into the back of police vans.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden was asked about the incident and expressed his belief that the British people were tired of these "stupid stunts" during an interview with the BBC.
Additionally, two other Greenpeace activists displayed a banner with the words "Rishi Sunak - Oil Profits or Our Future?" on the grass in front of the home.
"Just as wildfires and floods wreck homes and lives worldwide, Sunak is committing to a massive expansion of oil and gas drilling," said Philip Evans, Greenpeace UK¡¯s climate campaigner.
"The experts are clear ¨C we can¡¯t afford any new oil and gas, and the fossil fuel industry certainly doesn¡¯t need another helping hand in destroying the climate. What we need is a clean, affordable energy system fit for the 21st century. It¡¯s time for Sunak to choose between Big Oil¡¯s profits or our future on a habitable planet," he said.
"We have all witnessed how (Russian President) Putin has manipulated and weaponized energy ¨C disrupting supply and stalling growth in countries around the world. Now more than ever, it¡¯s vital that we bolster our energy security and capitalize on that independence to deliver more affordable, clean energy to British homes and businesses," Sunak said on Monday.
"Even when we¡¯ve reached net zero in 2050, a quarter of our energy needs will come from oil and gas. But there are those who would rather that it come from hostile states than from the supplies we have here at home. We¡¯re choosing to power up Britain from Britain and invest in crucial industries such as carbon capture and storage rather than depend on more carbon-intensive gas imports from overseas ¨C which will support thousands of skilled jobs, unlock further opportunities for green technologies, and grow the economy," he said.
He reiterated that fossil fuels would continue to be necessary as part of the country's future energy mix.
"Like most people, they¡¯re not eco zealots, they¡¯re open to sensible, practical arguments," he said when asked what his environmentalist daughters make of his plans.?
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