Climate activists halted an awards ceremony involving the chief executives of oil majors BP and Shell at a major industry conference last night.
Greenpeace protestors entered the annual Oil and Money conference dinner brandishing a banner describing the two firms as “climate criminals”.
They took to the stage as the Executive of the Year award was due to pass from BP CEO Bob Dudley to Shell’s Ben van Beurden.
In the lead up to the conference, protests were also staged outside the Intercontinental London Park Lane where it was held, describing the event as a “climate crime scene”.
It comes after the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre ended their partnerships with BP and Shell respectively last week.
In response to that, both companies said they are focussed on the climate challenge and are taking action.
Shell has already announced measures linking executive pay to climate change ambitions with aims to address its own emissions and that of its customers.
At its AGM in Aberdeen earlier this year, BP shareholders voted in favour of making greater disclosures on how its business aligns with the targets of the Paris climate agreement.
It did not, however, agree to another resolution on harder emissions targets, including those for customers known as “Scope 3”.
BP declined to comment. Shell has been contacted for comment.
The Oil and Money Conference, now in its 40th year, is due to change its name to the Energy Intelligence Forum next year to reflect the world’s shift to cleaner energy.
The event was also targeted in 2018 when protestors glued themselves to the entrance doors.
Mel Evans, senior climate campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said: “There’s simply no place for companies like BP and Shell if we’re to tackle the climate crisis.
“People young and old across the world are demanding radical action to stop a climate breakdown and build a better future. All the fine suits and five star meals can’t hide the truth – BP and Shell are climate criminals.
“It’s time they ended the search for new oil and switched to renewables or shut up shop and handed cash back to investors.”
