Extinction Rebellion activists protested at a BNP Paribas Fortis office in the centre of Ghent on Saturday morning.
The environmental group claims that the bank continues to invest in fossil fuels, deforestation, and the arms industry.
Since 15 March, Extinction Rebellion has held a series of actions against BNP Paribas, including protests at the bank’s offices in Antwerp and Bruges.
While three people were detained during previous protests, the Ghent demonstration was incident-free, with around fifty activists participating. Some dressed as “red rebels” and others staged a die-in at the office.
The climate movement calls on the bank to cease financing fossil fuels and controversial arms manufacturers. They allege that BNP Paribas invested $12 billion in fossil fuels in 2023, including in the Arctic region.
Extinction Rebellion also claims that the bank holds significant shares in oil and gas companies such as TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, and Chevron, undermining the Paris Agreement goals.
“It is also the only European bank that continues to grant loans to Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer. This financing, given the continuing violence in the Palestinian territories, constitutes direct support for Israel's genocidal policy,” the activists say.
