Activists remind businessmen about themselves at the Davos Forum
2023.01.15 12:49
Activists remind businessmen about themselves at the Davos Forum
Budrigannews.com – On Sunday, climate activists demonstrated in Davos against the participation of large oil companies in this week’s World Economic Forum (WEF), claiming that they were taking over the climate debate.
Major energy companies, such as BP (NYSE:), NYSE: Chevron as well as Saudi Aramco are among the 1,500 business leaders gathered in the Swiss resort for the annual meeting, where global issues like climate change will be discussed.
Nicolas Siegrist, the 26-year-old organizer of the protest who also heads the Young Socialists party in Switzerland, stated, “We are demanding concrete and real climate action.”
Monday marks the official start of the annual gathering of world business and political leaders in Davos.
Siegrist stated regarding the participation of energy companies at the WEF meeting, “They will be in the same room with state leaders and they will push for their interests.”
The oil and gas industry has stated that it must participate in the energy transition because countries’ transitions to low-carbon economies will continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels.
In a snowy Davos square, more than a hundred protesters chanted “change your diet for the climate, eat the rich,” and some booed oil companies mentioned in a speech.
Heather Smith, a member of the 99% organization, stated, “I know some of the companies are involved in alternatives, but I think governments must skew the field in favor of alternative energy with their subsidies.”
Smith was displaying a sign that read “Stop Rosebank,” referring to the oil and gas field in the North Sea that she is trying to stop plans for.
Traditional players with deep pockets have an advantage over renewable energy developments because rising interest rates have made it harder for them to obtain financing.
She continued, “There is still too much money to be made from investments in fossil fuels.”
