Climate activists protest over big oil hijacking debate

By Maha El Dahan

DAVOS (Switzerland) – On Sunday, climate activists protested in Davos against the role of big oil companies at the World Economic Forum (WEF). They claimed they are monopolizing the climate debate.

Among the 1,500 business leaders who are gathering in Switzerland for the annual meeting, which is held in the Swiss resort, are major energy companies such as BP, Chevron, and Saudi Aramco. Global threats, including climate change, are also on the agenda.

Nicolas Siegrist, a 26-year-old protest organizer who also heads the Young Socialists Party in Switzerland, stated that they are demanding concrete and effective climate action.

Davos will officially open the annual meeting for political and business leaders on Monday.

Siegrist stated that energy companies will be represented at the WEF meeting because they will be “in the same room as state leaders”

Oil and gas companies have stated that they need to participate in the energy transition. As countries move to low-carbon economies, fossil fuels will still play a significant role in the world’s energy mix.

A crowd of more than 100 protestors gathered in Davos to shout, “change you diet for the climate, eat rich”, while some cheered on oil firms mentioned during a speech.

Heather Smith, who is a member in good standing of the 99%, stated that while some companies may be involved in alternative energy, she believes governments, through their subsidies, should skew the field in favor of alternative energy.

Smith was holding a sign reading “Stop Rosebank”, an oil and gas field in the North Sea that she is fighting to end plans for.

Rising interest rates have made it more difficult for renewable energy development to obtain financing. This has given traditional players with deep pockets an advantage.

She said, “There is still too little money to be made by fossil fuel investments.”

(Editing By Alexander Smith)