Greenpeace activists are peacefully occupying the Dan Bravo oil rig to demand a complete phase out of fossil fuel production in Denmark and a “massive expansion” of offshore wind power.
“We are peacefully occupying the Dan Bravo oil rig today to tell leaders that unless they are brave enough to ban the search for new oil and gas in Denmark, they will never be the green frontrunners they claim to be,” said Ida Marie (pictured), who is one of the four activists taking part in the protest.
The Greenpeace activists swam to the oil rig from the Rainbow Warrior because vessels must stay outside a 500 metre exclusion zone.
They are carrying the necessary equipment and supplies to stay onboard for several days.
The activists have technology with them to enable communication in real time with supporters around the world.
Greenpeace Denmark said the country enjoys a “global reputation” as a green champion, even though its government remains a supporter of the country’s oil and gas industry and has already approved fossil fuel production beyond 2050, which is the final deadline for Denmark to reach net zero.
The Greenpeace Denmark swimmers said they want the Danish Government to start “putting action behind promises” to invest in a “truly green recovery” from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Banning new oil and gas exploration in the middle of the climate crisis as people around the world are battling floods and fires should be a no-brainer, but the Danish government doesn’t seem to get it.
“Because of my government’s lack of leadership and responsibility, I’m using the privilege of being able to exercise the right to peacefully protest to expose an old fossil fuel-driven world which is getting in the way of the green recovery we need right now,” Marie added.
The Dan Bravo is the site where Denmark first began extracting oil in 1972. The Danish part of the North Sea now has 55 rigs.
Their output makes Denmark the biggest oil producer and the seventh biggest gas producer in the EU.