Christian activists protest in Whitehall against climate vandalism

Sue Hampton and Rev James Grote with their 'Banksy' message - image Crispin Hughes

Activists from Christian Climate Action added their own version of a 'Banksy' to the hoardings at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in Whitehall Place today. This was in response to news that the UK government has approved the Jackdaw gas field. The government is now poised to decide on Adura's huge Rosebank oil field. Activists point to the science that shows we cannot afford to burn the reserves we already have, let alone develop new ones.

Jackdaw will emit over 35 million tonnes of CO2e, while burning the reserves in the huge Rosebank oil field would release over 250 million tonnes of CO2e. No new oil and gas fields are compatible with safe climate thresholds.

Rev James Grote, 69, Baptist minister and grandfather, who took part in the action, said: "Rosebank is climate vandalism. That's what Ed Miliband, the former Energy Secretary, said three years ago. Since then, we've seen what that means as fires, floods and storms have ripped through woodlands and destroyed homes. We've endured a summer of heat and drought that has decimated crops and overwhelmed the NHS. The burning of the oil from Rosebank would add to this suffering. As a Christian minister called to care for people, I have to speak out."

Sue Hampton, 70, Quaker, grandmother and writer, who took part in the action, said: "Tragically, crimes against humanity are not a rarity in 2026, but Rosebank would be another, on a massive scale. When emissions would be equivalent to those of the 28 poorest countries, that's a huge climate injustice. So, I need to do everything, however ineffective it might be, to try to stop it - in the name of Jesus."

LINK

Christian Climate Action: https://christianclimateaction.org/