Venice has issued a 48-hour ban against Swedish activist Greta Thunberg after she was allegedly involved in dumping a green dye into the city’s famous Grand Canal. The incident, which took place over the weekend, also resulted in fines for Thunberg and dozens of other protesters.
Reports indicate that Thunberg and approximately 35 members of the climate group Extinction Rebellion staged a series of stunts in the historic city. These actions coincided with the conclusion of the COP30 climate conference held in Belém, Brazil. The activists poured an “environmentally harmless” green dye into the canal waters and unfurled banners reading “Stop Ecocide” from the Rialto Bridge. Other demonstrators were observed walking through the streets with red veils covering their faces.
The group stated their objective was to “draw attention to the massive effects of climate collapse.” Following the protest, Thunberg and all participants were reported hit with a fine of roughly $172, in addition to the two-day city ban. Extinction Rebellion noted that similar protests, involving the same green dye in river waters, had recently been held in other Italian cities including Turin, Bologna, and Tarando.
Veneto Governor Luca Zaia sharply criticized the action, describing it as “a disrespectful act towards our city, its history and its fragility.” He further that stressed it was “a gesture that risks having consequences for the environment.”
The protesters also used the platform to criticize Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for opposing “ambitious climate measures” at COP30.
Lukewarm COP30 Declaration and Logistical Headaches
The weeks-long COP30 conference in Belém wrapped up last Friday with a “lukewarm” declaration. The final text merely proposed a “collective effort” to prevent climate disasters but reported lacking specific guidelines or actionable steps. Radical climate activists quickly lambasted the declaration for failing to include explicit demands to end the use of fossil fuels or mandates for increased spending in “green” policies.
The climate conference itself was marred by several organizational issues. Problems included, but were not limited to, a security breach at the diplomat-only “Blue Zone” that allowed radical protesters to storm the area demanding “climate action,” and an unrelated fire that erupted inside the venue days later.
Inside the venue, several participants lodged numerous complaints regarding non-functioning bathrooms, insufficient air conditioning, and instances of roof leaks. The logistical challenges extended beyond the conference site and into the host city of Belém. A severe lack of adequate hotel room capacity and “exorbitant prices” in the city prompted some participating diplomats to resort to book rooms at repurposed, raunchy “love hotels.”