Just Stop Oil ends direct actions after three years of mobilisation in London

The British environmental movement Just Stop Oil organised its final march in London on Saturday, announcing the end of its spectacular actions against new oil and gas projects in the United Kingdom.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The British group Just Stop Oil ended its direct actions on Saturday by organising a march through central London. Several hundred activists walked from Parliament to Shell’s headquarters, removing their signature orange vests to reveal T-shirts bearing a question mark. This symbolic gesture marks the cessation of actions after three years of continuous mobilisation against oil and gas projects.

An end formalised by government commitment

Just Stop Oil had announced in March its decision to stop its actions following the commitment of the Labour government to cease all new oil and gas projects in the United Kingdom. Since 2022, the movement had gained notoriety through widely publicised shock actions, including motorway blockages and soup-throwing incidents targeting artworks in museums. These activities triggered considerable criticism and strong judicial responses.

Halfway through the demonstration, participants stopped in front of the British Court of Appeal, where several activists had been sentenced to prison. Among them were the two activists who had thrown soup at Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”. According to organisers, 11 members are currently incarcerated, including co-founder Roger Hallam, while five more are expected to be imprisoned in May.

Continued existence through a new form

One of the march organisers, Tim Crosland, criticised the judicial procedures, describing the trials as “mock trials”. Some demonstrators carried portraits of the imprisoned activists to highlight their situation. Since 2022, Just Stop Oil reports a total of 3,300 arrests in the United Kingdom.

Despite the end of direct actions, the movement plans to continue supporting imprisoned members and to work on developing new strategies with other civil disobedience groups. According to Mel Carrington, a spokesperson for Just Stop Oil, mobilisation has become more challenging due to “judicial repression” and the changing international political context, notably after the election of Donald Trump in the United States.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Norway’s deferral of a climate impact assessment did not breach procedural safeguards under the Convention, upholding the country’s 2016 oil licensing decisions.
Singapore strengthens its energy strategy through public investments in nuclear, regional electricity interconnections and gas infrastructure to secure its long-term supply.
As oil production declines, Gabon is relying on regulatory reforms and large-scale investments to build a new growth framework focused on local transformation and industrialisation.
Cameroon will adopt a customs exemption on industrial equipment related to biofuels starting in 2026, as part of its new energy strategy aimed at regulating a still underdeveloped sector.
Facing a persistent fuel shortage and depleted foreign reserves, the Bolivian parliament has passed an exceptional law allowing private actors to import gasoline, diesel and LPG tax-free for three months.
Ghana aims to secure $16 billion in oil revenues over ten years, but the continued drop in production raises doubts about the sector’s long-term stability.
The government of Kinshasa has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam's Vingroup to develop a 6,300-hectare urban project and modernise mobility through an electric transport network.
ERCOT’s grid adapts to record electricity consumption by relying on the growth of solar, wind and battery storage to maintain system stability.
The French government will raise the energy savings certificate budget by 27% in 2026, leveraging more private funds to support thermal renovation and electric mobility.
Facing opposition criticism, Monique Barbut asserts that France’s energy sovereignty relies on a strategy combining civil nuclear power and renewable energy.
The European Commission is reviving efforts to abolish daylight saving time, supported by several member states, as the energy savings from the practice are now considered negligible.
Rising responses to UNEP’s satellite alerts trigger measurement, reporting and verification clauses; the European Union sets import milestones, Japan strengthens liquefied natural gas traceability; operators and steelmakers adjust budgets and contracts.
The Finance Committee has adopted an amendment to overhaul electricity pricing by removing the planned redistribution mechanism and capping producers' profit margins.
The European Commission unveils a seven-point action plan aimed at lowering energy costs, targeting energy-intensive industries and households facing persistently high utility bills.
The European Commission plans to keep energy at the heart of its 2026 agenda, with several structural reforms targeting market security, governance and simplification.
The new Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)–Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai) axis combines a nuclear restart, targeted fuel tax cuts and energy subsidies, with immediate effects on prices and risk reallocations for operators. —
German authorities have ruled out market abuse by major power producers during sharp price increases caused by low renewable output in late 2024.
A new International Energy Agency report urges Maputo to accelerate energy investment to ensure universal electricity access and support its emerging industry.
Increased reliance on combined-cycle plants after the April 28 blackout pushed gas use for electricity up by about 37%, bringing total demand to 267.6 TWh and strengthening flows to France.
The United States announces a tariff increase beyond the 10% base rate targeting several Colombian products. Bogotá has recalled its ambassador. The detailed list of tariff lines has not yet been published, while Colombia’s ban on coal exports to Israel remains in effect.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.