Climate Activists Block Roads in London in Protest Against New Energy Projects

'Just Stop Oil' protesters block traffic in Parliament Square in London, on Oct. 4, 2022. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Climate activists have blocked roads in central London for a seventh day as they protest against the UK government’s decision to expand oil and gas development to alleviate the energy crisis.

The Just Stop Oil organisation, a spin-off from Extinction Rebellion, stated on Oct. 7 that 22 of its supporters were arrested by Metropolitan Police after they blocked two crosswalks on Vauxhall Bridge Road and the Albert Embankment.

The group stated that some of the activists glued themselves to the road. Footage taken by the group shows motorists becoming aggravated and dragging people away from their positions on the road.

On Oct. 6, the Met stated that 32 people were arrested for “wilful obstruction of the highway” after Just Stop Oil supporters “glued and locked themselves” to the road at the top of Whitehall near Trafalgar Square at midday.

More Disruption Threatened

Just Stop Oil has been urging the government to begin the process of winding down fossil fuel production in the country.

“We will continue in civil resistance because it is the right thing to do when faced with a harmful government," a spokesman for the group said. “The coming weeks will see the disruption in the capital increase until the government makes a statement to end new oil and gas.”

The group has coincided its protests with a new round of licensing for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.

More than 100 licenses may be awarded for the exploration and potential development of 898 blocks and part-blocks in the North Sea, according to the North Sea Transition Authority.

Business and Energy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said the new licensing round will boost jobs, energy security, and the UK economy.

He also said domestic production of gas “has a lower carbon footprint than importing from abroad.”

‘Cross the Line’

Just Stop Oil began blockading fuel terminals on April 1, leading to more than 1,000 arrests.

The group was also filmed blockading petrol stations and damaging petrol pumps. On Aug. 26, Just Stop Oil stated on Twitter that they “decommissioned pumps at 7 stations in central London.”

Home Secretary Suella Braverman told the Conservative Party conference on Oct. 4 that she'll be tough on guerrilla protests by climate protesters and other rioters.

“You can’t just start a riot or glue yourself to the roads and get away with it,” Braverman said. “So whether you’re Just Stop Oil or Insulate Britain or Extinction Rebellion, you cross the line when you break the law, and that’s why we’ll keep putting you behind bars.”

PA Media contributed to this report.