In Brussels, hundreds of farmers disrupted streets near the EU headquarters, breaking barricades and clashing with police. Tear gas and water cannons were used to control the protests as EU Agriculture Ministers convened to address the agricultural crisis.
Meanwhile, in Bucharest, Romania, 20 Greenpeace activists along with some farmers protested outside the OMV Petrom headquarters against the Neptun Deep project. This offshore gas drilling endeavor threatens the EU’s carbon neutrality goals and poses risks to Black Sea wildlife. The activists painted ‘No New Gas’ on the building, highlighting concerns about expanding European fossil fuel infrastructure.
Lisa Göldner, a European Energy campaigner at Greenpeace Germany, emphasized the incompatibility of new fossil gas projects with limiting global heating to 1.5°C. She stressed the urgent need to transition to renewable energies and enhance energy efficiency.
Alin Tanase, Campaigns Coordinator at Greenpeace Romania, criticized OMV Petrom for its lack of transparency regarding the environmental impact of the Neptun Deep project. He highlighted the potential harm to marine ecosystems and climate from methane extraction.
According to estimates by Greenpeace Romania, the Neptun Deep project could emit over 200 million tonnes of greenhouse gases over 20 years, endangering the EU’s carbon neutrality targets. Concerns over climate change and ecological damage prompted 76 scientists in Austria to join Greenpeace’s call to halt the project.
Protests against Neptun Deep and other gas infrastructure projects are ongoing, including in Vienna, where a European Gas Conference was postponed due to fears of demonstrations. Major fossil fuel companies face mounting pressure to reassess their reliance on gas and prioritize sustainable energy solutions.
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