26 April 2024 , 09:00
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Climate protesters have targeted British energy firms Drax and BP as they held their annual shareholder meetings.
TV naturalist Chris Packham joined forces with the Axe Drax campaigners, making a stand outside the venue at 133 Houndsditch in London's financial district on Thursday. The entrance was swamped by protesters brandishing banners with messages such as "Stop burning trees" and "Invest in green energy", while chants of "Axe Drax. Reparations now" filled the air.
Drax, which operates the UK's biggest power station in North Yorkshire and uses wood pellets for electricity generation, faces allegations of causing environmental damage and polluting through its supply chain activities. Drax chief executive Will Gardiner and chair Andrea Bertone faced disruptions from activists, leading to several being escorted out by security amid attempts to rush the stage and an impromptu choral performance of "Hit the Road Drax".
Over at BP's gathering in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, Fossil Free London members were detained by police following attempts to gatecrash the event. The group had hoped to cut into Murray Auchincloss's speech, but security thwarted their plans, although their chants of "Shut down BP. You've got blood on your hands," still echoed through as chairman Helge Lund commenced the meeting.
Police arrested one man and two women for conspiracy to commit criminal damage, and another woman was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and common assault on a security officer. The incident occurred during a routine search by security staff as the four attempted to enter the meeting.
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One of those arrested was representing Hussein Julood, whose 21 year-old-son, Ali, died of leukaemia. Mr Julood claims that flaring the burning off of gas at the BP-run Rumaila oil field in Iraq caused his son's illness. In a statement read out at the meeting, Mr Julood said: "You claim to have reduced gas flaring but a huge amount is still ongoing, filling the sky with thick black smoke. While I seek reparations for my son's death, Ali's mother and I can never be compensated for the pain in our hearts," he added.
BP chief executive Bernard Looney responded: "I want to repeat our condolences and how deeply saddened we are to hear of Ali's passing." Investors at both Drax and BP's meetings voted in favour of all resolutions with no shareholder revolts.
Environmental protesters have been increasingly targeting the annual general meetings of companies associated with or accused of producing high emissions. Prior to the Drax AGM, Mr Packham declared: "In a global biodiversity crisis, you cannot justify felling and transporting wood from some of the planet's most precious natural resources. It's a disgrace that Drax is receiving huge subsidies meant for genuine renewables, it is past time to stop funding Drax's destruction."
The enterprise secures funds contributed by energy bill payers as the electricity generated from burning wood pellets is classified as renewable. However, sceptics argue this can only achieve carbon-neutral energy if firms utilise sustainable wood in their boilers.
Investigations by the BBC and others have suggested that Drax sources from environmentally important forests. Moreover, the company has faced accusations that pollution from wood pellet plants has led to health problems among those living in nearby communities in the US.
Krystal Martin, hailing from Gloster, Mississippi - where a Drax pellet plant operates, journeyed from the US to the UK for the meeting to face up to Mr Gardiner. Before the meeting, she said: "We are tired of false promises and being ignored. People in my town are being harmed and we want the UK government to wake up and pay attention.
She added: "If they give Drax more money, more people will be harmed. They must listen to us now before it's too late."
Drax has said it is confident its biomass is sustainable and disputed claims that its operations are having adverse impacts on communities. On Tuesday, the company announced 250,000 (£200,000) dollars to create a fund for Gloster as part of ongoing community engagement efforts.
However, Ms Martin said: "This is really an insult especially after the many years of physical, mental, emotional, and financial harm they have caused to the people in the community."
In a statement, a Drax spokesperson said: “AGMs are the cornerstone of shareholder democracy. Unfortunately, some activists, who set out to disrupt the event and intimidate attending shareholders and Drax employees, were removed or prevented from attending the meeting. Safety and environmental compliance are our top priority.
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“Drax is committed to ensuring the biomass we source delivers positive outcomes for the climate, for nature and for the communities in which we operate.” Responding to the protests, a BP spokesperson said: “Our priority continues to be the safety and security of all attendees.”