Greta Thunberg blocks Brussels boulevard in fossil fuel protest

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🗞️ Driving the news: Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion activists blocked a major road in Brussels, demanding the European Union end fossil fuel subsidies
• The protesters, padlocked to the ground near EU buildings, criticized European leaders for supporting the oil and gas industry, calling it a failure in climate action

🔭 The context: Despite EU climate goals, experts point out that the Energy Taxation Directive still favors fossil fuels, with over €100 billion annually subsidizing oil and gas
• While Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pushed to phase out these subsidies, progress has been slow, and the urgency for climate action has diminished in recent political shifts

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Continued subsidies for fossil fuels contradict EU climate targets, delaying the transition to cleaner energy and undermining efforts to combat global warming
• Activists argue for a deeper structural change in production, consumption, and lifestyle to meet climate goals

⏭️ What's next: The EU faces an uphill battle in revising its taxation system and phasing out fossil fuel subsidies
• Activists call for more radical changes, beyond just technological fixes, to address the climate crisis effectively

💬 One quote: "The urgency has been lost," said an EU Commission staffer, reflecting on the slow progress in climate policy

📈 One stat: The EU spends over €100 billion annually on fossil fuel subsidies

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