On a sunny morning, a group of Extinction Rebellion activists made their way to the Faculty of Biology in Turin, Italy. Undeterred by the red zone in place for the G7 energy ministers‘ hotel, the activists climbed on top of the roof and unfurled a banner reading „No More Fossil Fuels“. The building overlooked the bustling Piazza Carlina, and their message was clear: urgent action is needed to transition away from coal, oil and gas.
The G7 meeting marked the first major political session since the world pledged at the UN’s COP28 climate summit in December to take decisive action on climate change. With temperatures rising, sea levels climbing, and extreme weather events becoming more frequent, the need for action has never been more pressing. The activists on the roof of the Faculty of Biology were calling on the G7 energy ministers to prioritize the transition to renewable energy sources, and to take bold steps to address the climate crisis.
Their protest was not without risk. The red zone was in place to provide security for the G7 meeting, and the activists were taking a bold step by violating it. However, they felt that the urgency of the climate crisis required bold action. They knew that their message would be heard by the energy ministers, and that it was essential to push for rapid and sweeping change.
In the end, their message was received. The G7 energy ministers acknowledged the need for urgent action on climate change, and committed to a range of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support renewable energy, and address the impacts of climate change. The Extinction Rebellion activists on the roof of the Faculty of Biology played a small but important role in pushing for these commitments, and in raising awareness of the urgent need for action on climate change.