Climate, Energy & Environment

Protesters at Davos target climate inaction and carbon-intensive rich

The mounting frustration and anger over inaction on climate change is compounded by outrage over the many rising inequalities around the world between rich and poor.

, and John Heilprin

January 20, 2023 . 2:05 PM

5 min read

South Korean energy-to-defense conglomerate Hanwha Group's multi-story climate ad in Davos (AN/J. Heilprin)

DAVOS, Switzerland (AN) — In this Swiss resort town overrun by chaffeured gas-guzzling luxury cars, climate activists and leaders took aim at the many nations and businesses whose words don't measure up to their actions.

Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg protested companies that are "fueling the destruction of the planet" during an appearance at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting on Thursday, saying fossil fuel-based investment is still winning out over long-term sustainable energy.

Outside the WEF's meeting halls, the town's main thoroughfare was overrun with lavish displays promising a new era of high-tech corporate stewardship. But to Thunberg and other climate activists, those displays reeked of elitist hypocrisy.

“We are right now in Davos where basically the people who are mostly fueling the destruction of the planet, the people who are at the very core of the climate crisis, the people who are investing in fossil fuels etcetera, etcetera, and yet somehow these are the people that we seem to rely on solving our problems,” Thunberg said.