Barclays in Sheffield 'shut down' by Greenpeace activists in climate change protest

Activists disabled the doors to three Barclays banks, along with two other branches across Yorkshire and 100 nationwide, this morning (Monday, March 2), preventing staff from entering.

Images of Barclays ‘customers’ bearing slogans such as Barclays Climate Criminals, Stop Funding Fossil Fuels and Stop Funding the Climate Emergency were also plastered on the windows.

The group claim that Barclays is the biggest funder of fossil fuels among European banks and have demanded it ‘stop propping up oil, gas and coal companies and channel funding into renewable energy’.

Morten Thaysen, climate finance campaigner at Greenpeace UK said: “Barclays must stop funding the climate emergency, that’s why we’ve taken action today. From floods to bushfires and record heat in Antarctica, the impacts of this crisis are staring us in the face. Yet Barclays keeps pumping billions into fossil fuel companies at exactly the time we need to stop backing these polluting businesses.

“Banks are just as responsible for the climate emergency as the fossil fuel companies they fund, yet they’ve escaped scrutiny for years.We’ve shut down branches across the country to shine a spotlight on Barclays’ role in bankrolling this emergency. It’s time Barclays pulled the plug and backed away from funding fossil fuels for good.”

A Barclays spokesperson said: ‘Our priority is to ensure the health and safety of our colleagues and customers and we are working hard to get the branch open as soon as we possibly can although we are not able to give an exact timescale.’

While Barclays said they do not comment on individual protests, the spokesperson added: “We recognise that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today, and are determined to do all we can to support the transition to a low carbon economy, while also ensuring that global energy needs continue to be met.”