Two hundred people marched through the business district of Manchester today calling on the insurance industry not to back fossil fuel projects.
Campaigners from Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace Manchester and Friends of the Earth visited the offices of AIG, Hiscox, Tokio Marine and Chubb insurance companies to demand they take immediate action to slow the climate crisis and support the urgent transition from dangerous fossil fuels to clean energy. The protests were peaceful and involved some street theatre and singing at each location.
This protest was part of a global week of action organised by the Insure Our Future network running from 26th Feb – 3rdMarch. Grassroots groups and activists from across the world have come together to demand action, with events taking place in the UK, USA, Japan, South Korea, Uganda, DRC, Switzerland, France, Peru, Colombia, Germany, and Czechia.
Demands to the industry include immediately stopping insuring new fossil fuel projects, phasing out support for existing coal, oil and gas projects, respecting human rights and supporting a just transition to a fossil free future. This makes economic sense, would result in cheaper, more secure energy, create millions of jobs and, most importantly, a liveable future.
2023 was the hottest year since records began, and extreme and violent weather events are increasing across every continent.
Burning fossil fuels is the number one cause of the climate crisis, and fossil fuel projects – coal, gas and oil – cannot operate without insurance. This puts the insurance industry in a uniquely powerful position to have an impact on the future of our world.
In particular, the Manchester action focussed on two hugely damaging new fossil fuel projects: the proposed East African Crude Oil Pipeline in Uganda and Tanzania, and the proposed West Cumbrian Coalmine in Whitehaven. If either of these two projects were to go ahead it would make it increasingly difficult to stop global temperatures rising beyond a level where human life is possible.
Cordelia Newsome from Greater Manchester Climate Justice Coalition said:
“The insurance industry is meant to protect communities but instead it is deepening the crisis we face. If these insurance companies continue to insure fossil fuels, they are guaranteeing a future with more wildfires, floods, droughts and storms Insurers have a choice: do they want to be part of the problem, or will they stop insuring dirty, planet-wrecking oil, gas and coal; work for a liveable planet, and be part of a healthy, fair future for all? We ask them to take action now to protect our children’s future, because later is too late.”
In May Manchester will host the BIBA conference at Manchester Central, the UK insurance industry’s largest gathering, which will be another opportunity for campaigners to lobby the industry.
