Shareholders at SEB faced a disruptive morning at their annual meeting at the Konserthuset in Stockholm as they were met with a group of climate protesters making their voices heard. Activists from various organizations such as Fridays for Future, Take Back the Future, and End Fossil Finance had gathered to protest against what they deemed as “fossil financing” by SEB.
The group’s spokesperson, Josefine Adman, highlighted their concerns, stating that SEB is the bank in Sweden that provides the most loans to fossil fuel activities and their expansion. In the midst of a climate crisis, the activists found this support for fossil fuels unreasonable and unsustainable.
The protest escalated as a handful of individuals were removed by the police, initially detained for disobedience towards law enforcement. According to the police’s operations manager, Gunnar Ricknell, around 30 demonstrators had assembled for the unauthorized protest.
In a surprising turn of events, renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg was reportedly ejected from the meeting. Witnesses claimed that she defiantly shouted, “You’re not listening. How many people have to die for you to understand the severity of the situation?” just before her removal.
This clash between shareholders, activists, and authorities sheds light on the growing tensions surrounding climate change and the financial sector’s role in exacerbating the crisis. As demands for divestment from fossil fuels and sustainable investments continue to gain momentum, institutions like SEB face increasing pressure to align their practices with environmental goals and social responsibility. The intersection of finance and climate activism is a battleground where stakeholders on both sides are vying for a sustainable future.