Climate activists from grassroots campaigns #StopAdani and Insure our Future have gathered at the London headquarters of insurance giant Lloyd’s of London and delivered two giant postcards – one from the Pacific Climate Warriors and one from the global #StopAdani movement – calling on the insurance company to align its policies to the Paris Agreement and stop insuring the Adani Carmichael coal project in Queensland, Australia.
The postcards were addressed to Lloyd’s CEO John Neal, calling on him to act on the science of climate change. “Scientists are warning we can’t build any more fossil fuel infrastructure, if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change,” the postcard from Pacific Climate Warriors states. “Lloyd’s of London must follow the lead of 23 major insurance companies, including several Lloyd’s syndicates, and stop insuring Adani’s coal project.”
The postcards presented on behalf of concerned Australian citizens and the Pacific Islands were not accepted by the company’s security staff.
Lloyd’s of London is an insurance marketplace made up of around 100 insurance companies who insure commercial projects across the globe. Insurance for the Adani Carmichael coal project is being arranged through Lloyd’s but the company refuses to name the members involved in insuring the controversial project.
“It’s time for Lloyd’s and their insurers to show leadership and stop supporting and enabling new climate-destroying coal projects like Adani’s mine,” posted the Stop Adani group on its Facebook page.
This protest kicks off a week of global demonstrations to pressure Lloyd’s of London to follow the lead of 26 major insurance companies and stop insuring Adani’s coal project.
Climate activists and #StopAdani campaigners across Australia, Europe and Pacific are being urged to attend an online rally co-hosted by the youth-led Pacific Climate Warriors to be held tonight. The rally will be held on Zoom and can be watched on live stream via Stop Adani’s Facebook page.
In addition, rally participants and campaigners will take part in social media, digital and direct actions targeting Lloyd’s insurance companies and other key companies who are yet to rule out insuring the Adani project.
“Adani’s climate wrecking coal project is a reputational disaster for companies who associate with it, that’s why 24 major insurers have taken a stand and publicly ruled out insurance for Adani: Lloyd’s must follow their lead and stop insuring Adani,” says Stop Adani campaign spokesperson Claudia Lang.
Those living in the low-lying Pacific Islands are already experiencing rising sea levels as a result of climate change, forcing some to consider evacuating their homes. “Mining and burning coal from Adani’s mega mine will wreck our chance to protect our Pacific homelands from climate impacts. We are people who are living the realities of climate change right now,” says Inangaro Vakaafi, member of the Pacific Climate Warriors Polynesian Council of Elders.
If built, Adani’s proposed Carmichael mine will add an estimated 4.6 billion tonnes of carbon pollution to the atmosphere over its lifetime, asserts Stop Adani. The group is also calling on Lloyd’s to ban insurance for all new and proposed coal projects.
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All images of Insure our Future and #StopAdani protest at Lloyd’s of London headquarters via Flickr.
