Wet message for Zurich Group: banner from Campax
With a huge floating banner, the campaign organization Campax denounces Zurich Insurance's climate policy.
The banner with the inscription "stop insuring oil and gas projects" was pulled across Lake Zurich to the insurance company's headquarters near the port of Enge today - one day before Zurich Group's annual general meeting.
This morning, 7:00 a.m., air temperature 5 degrees, water temperature 7 degrees: A sailboat full of climate activists leaves the harbor in Zurich Riesbach. With them: a 10x13m banner. It is still wound up, but as soon as the boat leaves the harbor, the climate activists open a ripcord and the banner unfolds. Through sewn-in floats it stays on the water surface. Two climate activists jump into the water and adjust the banner so that the slogan is clearly legible: "Zurich, stop insuring oil and gas projects! Slowly, the sailboat glides towards Enge harbor, where the activists' destination is located: The headquarters of Zurich Insurance.
Nora Scheel, Campaign Manager at Campax, explains: "Zurich Insurance is a member of the Net-zero Insurance Alliance and has committed to limiting CO2 emissions in line with the 1.5°C target. Yet it is among the largest insurers of oil and gas. Climate scientists agree that the 1.5°C target does not allow for further expansion of fossil fuel production. Zurich Insurance must walk its talk and commit to stop insuring new oil and gas expansion projects; and phase out existing ones."
