Greenpeace Protests UK Oil Policies; Rishi Sunak's Home Covered in Black

On Thursday, protesters from the group 'Greenpeace' covered the personal residence of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with black fabric, intensifying their campaign against his government's oil drilling policies. In recent months, Sunak's performance on environmental issues has faced criticism. He recently stated that he would adopt a 'balanced approach' to climate change, balancing ambitions for net-zero carbon with the need to keep energy bills low for consumers. These remarks have angered environmental advocates in the UK, who are ramping up their protests by disrupting sporting events, music concerts, and political speeches. These actions have prompted Sunak's ministers to introduce new laws to counter protesters' methods, including slow walking on busy roads or chaining themselves to buildings and infrastructure. Greenpeace released images on Thursday showing four protesters on the roof of the Prime Minister's home in Yorkshire, northern England, covering the walls with black fabric. The protesters held a banner reading: 'Oil profits or our future?' About two hours later, they were still present, holding a sign that said 'No new oil.' Greenpeace stated that they are protesting the government's support for granting new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea and the proposed development of the 'Rosebank' oil field, which is contingent on a final investment decision. Greenpeace UK said: 'We desperately need the Prime Minister to be a leader on climate issues, not someone who is setting the climate on fire.' Sunak traveled to California for a holiday on Wednesday. The police said they inspected the area and no one entered the building. A separate protest also took place on Thursday outside the Prime Minister's residence and official office on Downing Street. The UK announced its goal to reach net-zero carbon by 2050 in 2019 and has rapidly increased its renewable energy capacity. However, Russia's military invasion of Ukraine has shifted focus to energy security. On Monday, the UK government committed to granting hundreds of licenses for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea as part of efforts for energy independence. The UK also approved the use of its first new deep coal mine in decades in December. A poll released on Wednesday showed that 67% of voters believe the UK government is mishandling environmental issues, marking the worst rating for the government since mid-2019. Some members of Sunak's Conservative Party are concerned about the Prime Minister's retreat on environmental commitments, with one former cabinet minister, who resigned in June, stating that Sunak has no interest in 'green issues.' Sunak defended his environmental record on Wednesday, stating that the UK has performed better than other major countries in reducing carbon emissions. A source in his office said on Thursday: 'We do not apologize for taking the right approach to ensure our energy security by using resources we have at home. Therefore, we are never reliant on aggressors like [Vladimir] Putin for our energy.' This article is based on a Reuters report.