Front‑line participation is limited to scientists, scholars, and academics
Scientist Rebellion blocks the Kronprinzenbrücke in Berlin in 2022 to highlight warnings in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. The banner reads: "1.5°C is dead. Climate revolution now!".Protest action outside the Congreso de los Diputados in Madrid in 2022Members of Scientist Rebellion from behind at the Last Generation Massenblockade Berlin on 28October 2023Members of Scientist Rebellion being interviewed by national television at the Last Generation Massenblockade Berlin on 28October 2023Scientist Rebellion banner reading "Defund fossil fuels" at Frack Off demo in Berlin on 10December 2024
More specifically, Scientist Rebellion is a network of academics that tries to raise awareness by engaging in non-violent civil disobedience.[2] It is a sister organization to Extinction Rebellion.[3] The group was co-founded by Mike Lynch-White and Dr. Tim Hewlett, who splattered paint on the headquarters of the Royal Society in September 2020, the group's first action.[4]
Front‑line participation is limited to scientists, scholars, and academics.[5] The white lab coats worn provide a simple way of being identified as scientists.[5]
In April 2022, Scientist Rebellion blocked roads in Berlin in protest against oil extraction in the North Sea.[8] In late2022, several activists protested at Autostadt Wolfsburgby gluing themselves to the floor at the Porsche exhibit hall, later complaining they were left alone overnight.[9]
In October 2023, DrGianluca Grimalda, a member, made international headlines by refusing to fly via plane from a field research assignment in Papua New Guinea. Instead, he intended to slow travel via container ships and land routes to save 4.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. His employer, Kiel Institute, threatened termination of his employment contract should he not arrive rapidly and later did apparently follow through.[10][11]
During the COP28 meeting in December2023, scientists from Scientist Rebellion signed an open letter calling on the public to become climate activists. Some signatories had contributed to previous IPCC Assessment Reports.[12][13]
Climate scientist Peter Kalmus has described his motivations for being arrested in Los Angeles with Scientist Rebellion in2022.[18] And climate scientist Rose Abramoff was arrested for similar reasons in WashingtonDC at much that same time.[19]
Gianluca Grimalda, Italian climatologist and behavioural economist, 1st employee to receive compensation following dismissal linked to climate change.[20]