Extinction Rebellion activists took over rue Belliard in Brussels on Saturday afternoon, demanding the Belgian Government halts all fossil fuel subsidies. The protest is part of a broader European campaign titled “Stop EU Fossil Subsidies” that will carry out actions in the lead up to the European elections in June.
The demonstration was brief, commencing around 14:30 and concluding 30 minutes later. Numerous Extinction Rebellion activists dominated the wide Belliard street. The police suspended vehicle movement to permit the protest but eventually ordered the activists to evacuate the roadway.
The activists call on Belgian policymakers to instantly cease subsidies for oil, coal, and gas and initiate the dismantling of all fossil fuel infrastructures in Belgium.
“CO2 emissions from fossil fuels reached a record level in 2023. The Belgian Government must acknowledge the current climate chaos and environmental devastation caused by an economy reliant on fossil fuels,” said one activist.
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Protestors argue that without immediate action, climate change could kill a billion people by 2050. Extinction Rebellion says the Belgian government awarded €12.9 billion in fossil fuel subsidies in 2020, flying in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence on the dangers of global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
Another disruption could follow on May 4, Extinction Rebellion announced. Similar actions simultaneously took place on Saturday in Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and Portugal. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg participated in one in The Hague, Netherlands, where she was detained.
