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Climate and social action group Reclaim the Power is planning direct action in central London against Drax Group’s proposals for a new gas-fired power station in Yorkshire.
The group is organising the event – which culminates in a day of direct action on Tuesday – to capitalise on current public mood for protest and awareness around climate issues.
Reclaim the Power wants to send a clear message to government about the harm a new gas-fired power station could pose to the environment.
The group said: “In the middle of a climate crisis, Drax’s plan to build a huge new gas fired power station is a disaster. It would lock us into burning fossil fuels for decades to come and wreck the lives of people in communities around the world hardest hit and least responsible for climate change. Any government genuinely committed to tackling the climate crisis would reject this plan immediately. Instead we need any energy system that meets people’s needs while using much less power, all of it clean and renewable.
“We come in the context of a really high interest in climate issues and there is a strong momentum building for real action for climate change and for something in the public debate.”
A spokesperson for Drax said: “Everyone has a right to peaceful protest. Climate change is the biggest challenge this generation faces. Natural gas has an important role to play in supporting the transition to a net zero carbon economy. Building new, more efficient gas power stations will help the UK to meet its climate objectives while ensuring homes and businesses have the power they need at a price they can afford.”
The company is working closely with police to ensure the event takes place safely and with minimal impact on its operations.
This week Drax announced a 52 per cent year-on-year reduction in carbon emissions for the first half of the year as part of its commitment to a low carbon future.
Earlier this year demonstrators gathered outside Drax’s AGM to protest against the company’s carbon emissions.
The event is also intended to raise awareness about social conditions in the UK and what has been called the hostile environment.
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