New punch action from the ANV-COP21 group. This Thursday, May 19 takes place on Common Good Summit In Toulouse, an event bringing together Nobel laureates in economics as well as leaders of large companies to reflect on “saving the common good”. The ceremony was, however, disrupted by activists denouncing a marketing and “greenwashing” operation on the part of companies deemed “not very respectful of the environment” by the activists.

Amazon, ExxonMobil and BNP Paribas targeted

In the morning, during the three conferences scheduled in Toulouse, activists took the floor to point out the reality of the activities of the invited companies. Thus, during the first conference on the theme “How to reduce your carbon footprint”, the ANV-COP21 speech targeted ExxonMobil, whose President Europe was one of the speakers.

They targeted the lobbying activity of the company, which has invested colossal sums to defeat bills aimed at limiting greenhouse gas emissions. They also underlined “the hypocrisy for an oil company to claim to achieve carbon neutrality while having a fossil energy extraction activity”, explains the collective in a press release.

At the following conference, which had as its subject “carbon neutrality without loss of growth”, the presence of BNP Paribas, which finances major hydrocarbon extraction projects, aroused the indignation of activists.

“Changing our lifestyles and reducing our consumption”

During their second speech, the activists particularly targeted economists and refused to use the term degrowth.

[…] All the scenarios for limiting our carbon emissions contribute to an essential part of energy sobriety, changing our lifestyles and reducing our consumption. We are in a hurry to act and the solutions must be named clearly. The problem is that the private interests of companies whose economic model is based on growth prevent us from moving forward,” they hammered.

Finally, about fifty activists gathered at the call ANV-COP21 and Extinction Rebellion gathered in front of Congress to once again denounce the greenwashing operation. For these activists, it is inconceivable that companies with a major responsibility in the global warmingsuch as ExxonMobil, Amazon or BNP Paribas could come and offer solutions.

The collective demands a rapid change in our lifestyles. © ANV-COP21

We can clearly see what is happening with the growing global warming and the need to change our lifestyles, we are directly targeting the private interests of multinational fossil fuels and finance. Claiming to come up with solutions is a way for them to save their activities and their profits, except that today there is an urgent need to act to undertake the fastest and most ambitious transition possible. […]“, they lambasted.

the ANV-COP21 group in Toulouse is not at his first attempt. Indeed, last January, about fifteen members of the collective took part in a symbolic action by laying out a cycle path near the Patte d’Oie school. The idea was to highlight solutions related to soft mobility. One thing is certain, their fight is far from over.

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