Contact details: mediaandmessaging@extinctionrebellionexeter.org

High-quality pictures and footage: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pmViZeBQqXzuSkZ2Rl6mH3ItTVnnFX0Y?usp=sharing

Extinction Rebellion activists disrupted the UK’s largest climate science conference after it was revealed that they have accepted sponsorship from a company profiting off of climate chaos. At approximately 10:40am, ten activists got onto the stage during the Exeter Climate Forum’s keynote speech to demand that the university drop the sponsorship and cut all ties with fossil fuel companies.

Howden Insurance protects fossil fuel infrastructure, and has no stated intention of ending or decreasing its activity in the fossil fuel sector. They have been repeatedly targeted by Extinction Rebellion for enabling climate-wrecking fossil fuel projects by brokering insurance for oil drilling, coal mining, and oil infrastructure. The university has given Howden seats on multiple panels at the conference, a perfect opportunity to greenwash their agenda.

This year’s forum brings together senior figures across UK climate decision-making, science, and policy at the University of Exeter. The Extinction Rebellion activists unfurled banners reading “Stop Insuring Climate Chaos” and “Howden Insurance Climate Criminals” to protest against Exeter Climate Forum’s acceptance of this sponsorship with Howden Insurance.

Jonathan Parker, 25, a student studying climate science at the university voiced his outrage by the sponsorship while on stage:     

“Howden is a major insurer of fossil fuels, and having them sponsor a climate science conference is utter madness. After 1,300 people died in Europe from last week’s heatwave, it’s clear that the urgency and severity of the climate crisis is only accelerating. We need to shut out dirty money and take rapid action on the climate now.”

After disrupting the keynote speech of the university’s Vice-chancellor, Lisa Roberts, the activists onstage joined around fifty people protesting outside the event. This included staff, students, and members of Exeter UCU (University and College Union) joining in solidarity. Earlier this week, the University Vice Chancellor announced a wave of cuts to academic staff, including including from the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI).

Renowned environmentalist Jonathon Porritt gave this statement in support of the action:     

“The insurance industry stands at a crossroads: it could become by far the most influential driver of change within the global financial system, advocating for radical decarbonisation as its underwriting business model collapses under the weight of ever more costly climate-induced disasters; or it could persist with its current monumental mendacity, investing billions of dollars in fossil fuel businesses in the full knowledge that this is what is destroying its own business model. The lack of leadership in the insurance industry is despicable; Its shareholders should be rising up in revolt. Failing that, citizens should be spearheading that revolt – and why not start with Howden Insurance, and the shameless decision by Exeter University to use some of Howden’s dirty money to sponsor a conference about climate change.”

Golman Prize Winner, Sarah Finch also voiced her support for the action:     

“Insurers like Howden know the risks associated with burning oil and gas better than anyone. So why are they still underwriting new fossil fuel projects? This is literally driving the climate crisis. Allowing Howden to sponsor the Exeter Climate Forum gives them an undeserved green veneer and is completely inappropriate.”

Staff and students came together today as a unified voice to call out the University of Exeter’s management corruption of climate science and higher education, and to demand urgent action on the climate crisis. Police were present at the event but no arrests were made.