, Antalya, Türkiye - Greenpeace International today launched a giant Trojan Horse in Konyaalti Municipality in central Antalya during the UN climate conference COP31, exposing how the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries are using plastic production to prolong dependence on oil and gas and protect their profits.
Created in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo for Greenpeace's plastics campaign, the installation stands six metres high and four metres wide and poured out plastic when the trapdoor in its belly opened. It carried a message to world leaders gathering for climate negotiations: plastic is the big oil's Trojan Horse.
Berk Butan, Social and Economic Systems Campaigner at GP Türkiye, said: "The legend of Troy is a striking story deeply rooted in the ancient history of these lands. Just like in the myth, this horse - appearing as a gift from the outside - hides something within that threatens our lives. The fossil fuel industry is using plastic as an escape hatch.
"Türkiye is promoting its Zero Waste initiative to the world at COP31. However, a comprehensive Zero Waste policy requires placing limits on plastic production and closing borders to other countries' plastic waste. Türkiye is hosting an historic moment. Now is the time to take a decisive stance and fight for true Zero Waste."
Behind familiar packaging and everyday products lies an industry that pushes for more plastic production to sustain its profits, threatening to lock in demand for oil and gas and undermine essential climate action. Plastic contributes to the climate crisis throughout its entire life cycle, from fossil fuel extraction and manufacturing to disposal.
Thomas Dambo, the creator of the Trojan Horse installation, said: "I build sculptures exclusively from recycled materials and trash to make people think of how we overproduce. Here at COP31, this Trojan Horse reveals what everyday plastic conceals: its connection to oil and gas. As leaders negotiate our climate future, the fossil fuel industry is expanding through plastics. Working with Greenpeace, I hope this horse sparks curiosity and sends a clear message: a healthier climate means cutting plastic production."
Jacob Kean-Hammerson, Global Plastics Policy Lead at Greenpeace USA, said: "Plastic is Big Oil's Trojan Horse - a way to keep profiting from fossil fuels and continued climate emissions and pollution. Governments cannot tackle the climate crisis while allowing unchecked plastic production to threaten our communities, our health and our future. At COP31 and the next Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, leaders must stand up to fossil fuel interests and commit to a just transition away from fossil fuels and cutting plastic production."
Greenpeace is calling on governments to deliver a strong Global Plastics Treaty that will cut plastic production at its source, accelerate a just transition away from fossil fuels and support reuse and refill systems.
Ahead of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in March 2027, Greenpeace challenged leaders at COP31 to confront the fossil fuel interests behind plastic through the Trojan Horse installation. A healthy climate and a truly Zero Waste future depend on cutting plastic production and putting people and the planet before polluters' profits.
