Activists of Greenpeace covered the Yorkshire residence of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with black cloth in protest against his recent announcement to expand oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.
A video posted by the group showed a crew dressed in bright red jumpsuits, helmets, and safety harnesses carrying ladders and climbing onto the roof of the Yorkshire house. They slowly unfurled long black sheets of fabric over the front of the home and held a yellow sign on the roof that read 'No New Oil'.
The Guardian reported that activists reached the top of Kirby Sigston Manor using ladders and climbing ropes at around 6am and unfurled 200sq metres of oil-black fabric to cover a whole side of the property. At the same time, two other activists standing on the lawn in front of the house held a banner with the caption, “Rishi Sunak – Oil Profits or Our Future?”
Greenpeace activists said they made sure the Prime Minister or family were not at home before carrying out the protest. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden was quoted as saying to activists, “Stop the stupid stunts”.
The prime minister was not home because he is vacationing with his family in California. North Yorkshire police said officers were at the location.
Sunak announced Monday that Britain will grant hundreds of new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea to gain energy independence. The move was widely criticised by environmental groups that have accused the government of backsliding on its pledge to eliminate net carbon emissions by 2050.
“We desperately need our prime minister to be a climate leader, not a climate arsonist," said Philip Evans of Greenpeace. "Just as wildfires and floods wreck homes and lives around the world, Sunak is committing to a massive expansion of oil and gas drilling."
UN scientists and environmental groups have called on global leaders to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels after a summer of record high temperatures, drought and floods linked to manmade climate change.
Burning oil and gas to power vehicles, factories and electricity-generating stations releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide, the main driver of global warming.
A statement from Sunak's office defended the prime minister's climate policies. "We make no apology for taking the right approach to ensure our energy security, using the resources we have here at home so we are never reliant on aggressors like (Russian President Vladimir) Putin for our energy,” the statement said.
The protest is one of dozens of high-profile demonstrations in the UK and across Europe by groups that have disrupted sporting events, caused massive traffic jams and performed shocking stunts to draw attention to the climate crisis and try to stop the production of fossil fuels.
(With PTI inputs.)