CAMPAIGNERS staged a protest outside a Colchester insurance firm as they warned of the “disastrous” impact enabling oil and gas companies could have on the planet.

Extinction Rebellion activists from Colchester, Clacton and Ipswich held a demonstration outside Hiscox, in Sheepen Road, Colchester, on Friday morning.

The peaceful protestors, equipped with placards and banners, called on the business to stop insuring companies involved in fossil fuel schemes.

The demonstration, which was supervised by three police vehicles, was part of a global week of action which saw similar protests take place all around the world.

Gazette: Message - Campaigners were equipped with placards and messages Image: Extinction Rebellion Message - Campaigners were equipped with placards and messages Image: Extinction Rebellion (Image: Extinction Rebellion)
Gazette: Peaceful - Campaigners speaking to police officers who supervised the protest Image: Extinction Rebellion Peaceful - Campaigners speaking to police officers who supervised the protest Image: Extinction Rebellion (Image: Extinction Rebellion)
According to Extinction Rebellion, Hiscox has so far refused to rule out insuring both the EACOP pipeline project in Africa and west Cumbria coal mine in the UK.

Willow Hunter, 28, who is currently studying environmental science at university, was one of the campaigners calling for action from the picket on Friday.

She said: “We are asking Hiscox to no longer insure any oil and gas companies.

“Without insurance fossil fuel companies cannot go ahead with fossil fuel projects like the EACOP ‘carbon bomb’ and the West Cumbria coal mine.

“This really affects everything – it is life on earth. The carbon which is emitted by all these projects which might go ahead is just disastrous.”

Fellow protestor, Tony Essex, meanwhile, fears an ecological collapse if fossil fuel projects continue to be given the greenlight.   

He added: “We have had 40 degree weather in the UK and the hottest year on record – but it is only going to get worse and worse and hotter and hotter every year.

“We need to bring the temperature down.”

Gazette: Picket - Extinction Rebellion activists from Colchester, Clacton, and Ipswich outside Hiscox insurance company Image: Extinction Rebellion Picket - Extinction Rebellion activists from Colchester, Clacton, and Ipswich outside Hiscox insurance company Image: Extinction Rebellion (Image: Extinction Rebellion)
Bosses at Hiscox have now said they are committed to supporting clients who are investing in the transition to net zero. 

“Our exclusions policy outlines our intention to steadily reduce and eliminate by 2030 our underwriting and investment exposure to the worst emitters,” they said.

“We are equally focused on supporting the growth of renewable and green technologies.”