Over the years, global temperatures have increased, causing the tremendous changes experienced in our world today. One of the major contributors to climate change is the fossil fuel industry that has greatly driven the industrialization of countries improving economic growth.
However, climate activists have tried to come up against laws and regulations that continue to entertain the fossil fuel industries. This resolution was mainly brought about due to the fact that the industry not only pollutes the environment, profiting off of this but also pushes a political agenda.
Among these activists is Roger Hallam, the co-founder of Just Stop Oil, who has been at the forefront of demanding that the UK government stop licensing new oil, gas and coal projects. Just Stop Oil was formed on February 14th, 2022, and since then the members have stood up for what they believe to be right for the environment. JSO wants to hold the UK government accountable by wanting them to sign a Fossil Fuel Treaty to simply Just Stop Oil by 2030.
Although JSO is striving for a cause they believe will mitigate climate change, some question their means to get the message to the government. An example would be the M25 disruption in November 2022 just a few months after formation. Reports show that this protest caused more than 500,000 hours of delay which affected more than 700,000 vehicles. Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward stated that a police officer suffered a concussion after being knocked off his motorbike. In addition, she mentioned that the cost of the protests was at least $1 million.
This particular case has moved the co-founder and four other protestors to be charged with conspiracy to cause a public nuisance where 45 people climbed up the gantries for four successive days. Though they all pleaded not guilty, all were convicted and four of them were sentenced to four years and the others sentenced to five. The defendants were found guilty of intentionally causing the public nuisance after it was discovered they had a zoom call where they discussed the planned protests and recruitment of others. A reporter from The Sun Newspaper posing as an interested party of the same, passed the recordings to the police which became incriminating evidence against them.
Other examples would be the group disrupting Wimbledon matches with glitter and puzzle pieces and other large scale activities. The most recent one being damaging Stonehenge, a UNESCO world heritage site, using orange powder paint which they claim to be cornflour that would eventually be washed away with rain.
Despite all these efforts, the government has not bowed to their demands. In fact, Mr. Rishi Sunak, former U.K Prime Minister, issued new licences for oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. This was done as a measure to safeguard the country against an energy crisis following the events of the Russia – Ukraine war. Basically, the government wants to attain energy independence.
It is our only hope that the UK government and activists may reach a compromise that will prove to be less straining on the environment but also improve the nation’s economy. Whichever the case, the U.K should keep working towards net zero and focus on the SDG goals that will help direct the choices made around climate change.