Lloyd’s targeted by Mary Poppins-themed flash mob

On 13 June, Lloyd’s of London was targeted by a Mary Poppins themed climate change flash mob.

The Mothers Rise Up climate action group created a song and dance compilation outside the market’s iconic Lime Street building to protest the insurance marketplace’s role in jeopardising children’s future’s by underwriting fossil fuel projects.

The dancers dressed in business attire, with children and adults flying model kites and holding placards, called on Lloyd’s to take concrete climate action.

Chryso Chellun, a founding member of climate action group Mothers Rise Up and the creative force behind the protest, said: “Lloyd’s is a corporate goliath but is nothing compared to the unstoppable force of a mother’s love for her kids. We will not give up until Lloyd’s drops its insurance of deadly fossil fuels.”

This latest action comes a few weeks after a face-to-face meeting between climate action groups Mothers Rise Up and Parents for Future UK with Carnegie-Brown.

Sensible and pragmatic transition approach, says Lloyd’s 

Lloyd’s insures 40% of the global energy market, including fossil fuel projects.

A spokesperson for Lloyd’s said: ”We are committed to implementing our plans to support a rapid but orderly transition to net zero and continue to proactively engage with market participants on ESG.

“Our guidance to the market, published in October 2021, is unchanged. We remain of the view that ceasing to provide new cover for thermal coal-fired plants, thermal coal mines, oil sands and Arctic energy exploration activity, and phasing out of existing cover by 2030, remains a sensible and pragmatic ambition for supporting the energy transition.”

According to Mothers Rise Up, Lloyd’s has refused to rule out insuring the proposed East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

To date,  the campaign group allege that Lloyd’s has failed to meet African civil society campaigners looking to stop EACOP.

Meanwhile, choreographer of the protest performance, Denni Sayers, added: “This bright and colourful dance aims to draw the attention of people passing by Lloyd’s of London, to look up from their everyday busyness and begin to work towards a cleaner, brighter future for all.”