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Activists call out the ‘greenwashing’ of polluters and corporations at Cop26

THE Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow was at the centre of further protests today as campaigners disrupted events and criticised the extent of greenwashing across the talks. 

Activists from across Europe and north America took to the stage at the official Cop26 venues to highlight greenwashing by the principal sponsors of the United Nations conference. 

Glasgow Calls Out Polluters, Rising Tide North America, Federation of Young Greens and activists from Spain, Italy and the Netherlands wore high-vis vests and held signs reading: “Danger: greenwashing ahead,” while others cordoned off the entrance with yellow warning tape. 

The activists led a “toxic tour” along the corporate row, highlighting each sponsor’s role in contributing to the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure. 

The campaigners closed the Green Zone for the duration of the action and, as they were being escorted out by police and security guards, urged attendees to join them in becoming a part of the real solutions to climate change.

Activists from Scientist Rebellion, an affiliate of Extinction Rebellion, followed up their occupation of a key Glasgow bridge last week by pasting scientific papers showing the scale of the climate and ecological crisis onto the walls of the Scottish Power headquarters.

Six protesters wearing laboratory coats risked arrest by spray-painting messages such as “tell the truth” onto the building and holding a banner reading: “Tell the truth or we will lose everything.”

Activist Kyle Topfer said: “Greenwashing by smaller subsidiaries is hiding the fact that their parent companies are annihilating indigenous nations and future generations through deceit, deception, delay, dishonesty and direct exploitation.”

Police Scotland confirmed that a total of 70 campaigners had been arrested in the 12 days around Cop26. 

Today’s action took place after climate justice activists disrupted an event on Wednesday evening hosted by gas and electrity transmission company National Grid. 

The group, including activists from Shale Must Fall, Frack Off London and Extinction Rebellion, stormed the stage at the Cop26 fringe with a banner reading: “No fracked gas, no crude oil, end neocolonial spoil.”

The panel event in the Green Zone was focusing on energy transition, with concerns expressed at the amount of imported fracked gas being used across Britain. 

Scottish Power and National Grid were approached for comment.

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