14 May 2025: HXR members protest with other environmental groups at British Insurers Brokers’ Association Conference

HXR members joined Extinction Rebellion, Friends of the Earth, Manchester Greenpeace, and Insure Our Survival campaign at a colourful and dramatic protest at the annual British Insurers Brokers’ Association (BIBA) ‘New Era’ Conference in Manchester, to demand that the industry stops driving the climate emergency by backing fossil fuel projects.

The protest began outside Manchester Central with the arrival of a life sized model of a Lamborghini sports car, that appeared to be sinking in flood waters. The car was converted into a James Corden style Karaoke booth where activists sang pop songs about extreme weather and encouraged delegates to join them, do the right thing and abandon ties with insurance companies enabling fossil fuel projects. Later in the day a performance by XR Oil Slicks highlighted the need to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

A recent report by several groups, including Friends of the Earth and Insure Our Survival, called Boycott Bloody Insurance (3) showed that 33 British insurance companies are active in large fossil fuel projects, with $6.5 billion invested by just five companies. The industry is well aware of the risk from climate change. A spokesperson for the coalition, Martin Porter said: “BIBA needs to decide if ‘A New Era’ means floods, fires, heatwaves and climate chaos, or one where brokers refuse to enable carbon bomb projects. We call on each and every one of the delegates to become climate heroes themselves and to help change their industry.

Links

”https://thebibaconference.org.uk/https://www.insuranceage.co.uk/insight/7956124/ex-england-manager-gareth-southgate-among-biba-conference-speakers

https://boycottbloodyinsurance.org/reports/https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00092496.html

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