Radical Climate Protest Group Vows to Tone Down Publicly Disruptive Tactics

Extinction Rebellion protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, on Sept. 2, 2022. Aaron Chown/PA Media

The UK branch of a climate activist group has vowed to tone down its radical tactics like gluing themselves to famous paintings and blocking roads.

Extinction Rebellion UK (XR) said in a Jan. 1 statement entitled “We Quit” that it would halt its publicly disruptive actions in order to be more inclusive in its campaign to urgently counter climate change.

“As we ring in the new year, we make a controversial resolution to temporarily shift away from public disruption as a primary tactic. We recognise and celebrate the power of disruption to raise the alarm and believe that constantly evolving tactics is a necessary approach,” said the group.

They admitted that “very little has changed” in the four years of publicity regarding rising emissions and warned that the climate was continuing to worsen.

The eco-radical organization has pulled off stunts, such as blocking key roads and bridges in central London, gluing themselves to paintings, blockading oil terminals to disrupt fuel supplies, smashing windows at Barclays bank headquarters in Canary Wharf, and spraying fake blood over the Treasury offices.

Eco-Radical Group Wants to Attract Mainstream

The group also said hopes to broaden its appeal to attract more mainstream support, rather than alienating people through attention-seeking actions.