CLIMATE activists Fossil Free London staged a heatwave and wildfire-themed protest outside Shell’s global HQ on the Southbank ahead of the oil giant’s profits announcement today.

On Wednesday night, activists dressed in “burnt” holiday gear and held banners and signs in the action, which the group said aimed to highlight worsening wildfires and heatwaves “caused by the global heating that Shell fossil fuels are heavily contributing towards.”

In March 2024, Shell rolled back its green targets and pledged to maintain oil production until 2030.

Today, the company revealed net profits of $9.84 billion (£7.4bn) for the first half of the year, despite a drop from previous periods while wildfires rage across southern Europe during a record-breaking heatwave. 

Fossil Free London director Robin Wells said: “We are now in a new normal of record-breaking heat, created by corporations like Shell. 

“This will mean devastation and mass loss of human life. 

“It’s time for destruction to stop raising billions in profit. It’s time to shut down Shell.”

A Global Witness report found that the emissions produced from burning Shell’s oil and gas alone would lead to two million additional premature deaths due to heat before 2100.