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Photo credit: X
Climate activists protested outside the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London, highlighting the environmental damage caused by liquid natural gas (LNG). The demonstration unfolded on the final day of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee meetings, where delegates discussed strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
The climate advocacy group Ocean Rebellion, organized the protest. One protester, portraying an “ocean goddess,” stood with a fishbowl over her head, filled with fake black oil to simulate drowning in oil and gas—a metaphor for LNG’s impact on oceans. A fellow campaigner poured the black liquid into the fishbowl, and the “goddess” appeared terrified as it engulfed her face before draining out.
10/10 🌍 "By flying Scrubby in to promote LNG, the @IMOHQ is gaslighting us all," warns @oceanrebellion. We need the #IMO to stop backing fossil fuel lies and start cutting methane emissions. #SayNoToLNG #ClimateActionNow pic.twitter.com/SSaolHqOPj
— Ocean Rebellion (@oceanrebellion) October 2, 2024
Other activists wore gas masks and wielded petrol pumps that appeared to spout flames, adding to the apocalyptic scene. These visuals symbolized the environmental harm LNG shipping allegedly inflicts on marine life.
Ocean Rebellion used the protest to accuse the IMO of "greenwashing" and ignoring the effects of fossil fuels. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the group declared, "Poseidon, Goddess of the Ocean, is here to protect our seas! On Monday, she stood up against the IMO's greenwashing lies about LNG. We need real climate action, and she's leading the charge!"
Activists argue that LNG, promoted as a cleaner alternative to conventional fuels, is far more damaging to the environment. “Methane leaks from LNG ships are 80 times more harmful than CO2,” the group stated, adding that the IMO was failing to safeguard the oceans and succumbing to fossil fuel lobbyists.
🌊 Poseidon, The Goddess of the Ocean is here to protect our seas! On Monday, she stood up against the #IMO’s greenwashing lies about LNG. We need real climate action, and she’s leading the charge! #SupportTheGoddess #BanLNG #OceanRebellion pic.twitter.com/hGTckh8gWP
— Ocean Rebellion (@oceanrebellion) October 3, 2024
"Liquid Natural Gas is not a 'green' solution," the campaigners asserted. "The IMO must wake up to this reality before it's too late." They demanded immediate transparency and accountability, calling for decisive actions to prevent further harm to the planet's oceans.
The IMO, the UN agency regulating maritime transport, had been convening to discuss reducing the shipping industry’s environmental impact in light of global climate targets. However, Ocean Rebellion claims the organization is moving too slowly and catering to fossil fuel interests rather than tackling the urgent threats posed by LNG shipping.
As the protest attracted attention from passersby and media, the group reiterated their core message: “The IMO is failing to protect our oceans. LNG is a dirty fuel disguised as clean. We demand transparency and accountability. Stop listening to fossil fuel lobbyists, start protecting our planet!”
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