Climate activists stage protests
Week-long demonstrations in Oslo
Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB
Activists from the climate movement Extinction Rebellion were in motion outside the Norwegian Parliament building to protest the government’s oil policy.
FRAZER NORWELL
The Local
Climate action group Extinction Rebellion blocked off several roads, streets, and buildings in Oslo on Tuesday as part of a number of week-long protests in the Norwegian capital.
On Aug. 24, climate activism group Extinction Rebellion blocked off the intersection at Frederiks Gate Street and Karl Johans Gate Street by the palace in Oslo and protested outside the Ministry of Climate and Environment as part of a set of week-long demonstrations in the city.
Around 100 demonstrators, some of who chained themselves together using plastic tubes, were at the intersection near the palace, and police set up roadblocks around the group before moving them on.
The demonstrations are part of what the group has called “non-violent disobedience” to protest the Norwegian government’s decision to continue drilling for oil.
“We are protesting against the Norwegian government’s decision to drill for more and more oil. It exacerbates an already escalating climate crisis,” the group’s spokesperson told local news site Avisa Oslo.
Despite its green ambitions of being climate neutral by 2030 and a “low carbon” society by 2050, the country is still one of the worlds largest exporters of oil and natural gas.
In addition to this, the country will continue oil drilling, exploration, and production in the coming decades. This, the International Energy Agency, has previously said, is entirely at odds with the global goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
On Aug. 23, 48 people were arrested following protests outside the Ministry of Petroleum and demonstrations in Majorstuen and Grünnerløkka.
Oslo Police District has so far issued 33 fines of NOK 13,000. In total, NOK 429,000 in fines have been dished out so far.
The group have said the fines activists pick up will be partially subsidized through fundraising, but members were ultimately responsible for their own fines.
This article first appeared on The Local.
