Ravenna, Italy – As Italy and much of Europe are entering the heatwave season with scorching temperatures already being recorded, 12 activists from seven countries are taking action with Greenpeace Italy against climate-wrecking fossil gas at the new liquefied gas import terminal of Ravenna. At sea, activists reached the infrastructure and attached large banners on it reading "Burn, baby, burn" referencing President Trump's mantra "Drill, baby, drill" alongside an image of a burning Earth flanked by the faces of US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Photos and videos are available in the Greenpeace Media Library.
At the same time, activists are protesting in kayaks holding a road sign depicting the choice EU leaders need to take between climate hell and a fossil-free future. The action targets Italy's recent pledge to increase imports of liquefied fossil gas from the US. An alliance that deepens Europe's fossil fuel dependence and vulnerability to political blackmail from Trump.[1]
Federico Spadini, climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace Italy said: "While the country scorches under record heat, Meloni chooses to side with Trump and sabotage Italy's climate action. This toxic alliance puts Italy's energy future in the hands of Trump and locks the country further into a dangerous gas dependency that fuels the climate crisis, drives up our energy bills and turns our homes into ovens."
Italy is reportedly Europe's fourth largest importer of liquefied fossil gas with Qatar and the US being the primary suppliers. Despite the fact that liquefied gas (LNG) imports fell by 12% in 2024 according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), the Italian government has pushed for additional LNG import capacity with the new gas import terminal (FSRU) in Ravenna which started operations earlier this year.[2] The protest also comes in the middle of the Greenpeace campaign against oil and gas giants like the Italian ENI, the same company that launched a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) targeting Greenpeace Italy, Greenpeace Netherlands and Italian NGO ReCommon.[3]
"While Meloni is making dirty deals with Trump, ENI threatens to silence those who dare to speak out and advocate for a renewable energy future-putting profit before people, and deepening a toxic pattern of repression and fossil fuel dependence," added Spadini.
Accelerating the transition to renewable energy is not only an environmental imperative; it is a matter of security, said campaigner Lisa Göldner, who is currently on board the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise on an expedition across Europe to expose the risks of fossil gas and to mobilise for a fossil-free energy future.[4]
Lisa Göldner, Greenpeace Germany campaigner with the European Fossil-Free Future campaign said: "Every new gas import terminal, every new fossil gas purchase agreement is locking Europe further into a gas trap that threatens Europe's security and independence. Fossil gas fuels the climate crisis and geopolitical conflict and makes Europe vulnerable to political blackmail. The EU must break free from its fossil fuel dependency and take control of its future by investing in a renewable, secure and peaceful energy system."
"Rather than weakening methane regulations and handing a 'free pass' to US gas, as is currently being considered, EU leaders have to up their game: agree on a full phase-out of fossil gas by 2035 at the latest and ban all new fossil fuel projects in the EU."[5]
Greenpeace is calling for a phase-out of fossil gas through a transition to renewable energy that allows everyone to meet their energy needs at a decent price, without harming people, the planet or the environment.
