Climate protesters occupy commercial insurer’s office lobby

Climate protesters have targeted CNA Hardy’s office in central Manchester in a protest against new fossil fuel projects.

Protesters occupied the lobby of the firm’s office, which is based in York Street, on 16 April 2025 and refused to leave for several hours.

They called for insurance firms to end covering new fossil fuel projects, with them holding banners stating “Insure Our Survival”.

Meanwhile, outside CNA Hardy, protesters held a large Stop EACOP (East African Crude Oil Pipeline) banner and gave out leaflets to the public and staff entering and leaving the office building.

Eacop is a pipeline that is set to transport oil produced from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.

One protester said: ”I’m here because I want my grandchildren to have a safe future, I feel scared for them.

”Even some of the insurance industry themselves are warning that we need urgent change and many insurance companies have said they won’t insure EACOP.”

Warning

This comes after Isabelle L’Héritier, European co-coordinator at Insure Our Future, alleged that some insurers’ actions were hindering progress toward reducing emissions and transitioning to renewable energy.

L’Héritier also warned that if they “refuse to stop supporting the expansion of fossil fuels”, the group will “hold them accountable” through protests.

However, Insure Our Future signalled a willingness to collaborate with insurers that it feels are committing to climate action.

L’Héritier said: “More people are outraged as insurers leave them unprotected when disasters strike while continuing to underwrite projects that worsen the climate crisis.

“If we see commitments, particularly on phasing out midstream and downstream oil and gas and the liquefied natural gas value chain, we are ready to support the industry in building resilience and developing innovative solutions for a just transition.”