Billboards and bus stops across the UK have been hacked with fake Barclays ads by activists, as climate activists step up pressure on the bank to stop funding the expansion of the fossil fuel industry.

More than 200 billboards and bus stops in 20 cities have seen satirical artwork installed without permission, as calls mount for the bank to stop offering credits to fossil fuel companies flouting commitments climatic. Barclays are currently considering updating their policy on fossil fuel lending ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November.

Posters designed by 11 artists refer to Barclays funding of companies involved in Arctic oil drilling, coal mining and hydraulic fracturing as well as meat industry companies such as JBS, accused of deforestation in the Amazon. . They also link the bank’s sponsorship of Premier League football with the benefits of fossil fuels. A work of art by Darren Cullen reads, “Our plans to stop wildfires: cut them down first. Another from Inzione shows an oil rig in the Arctic and reads: “Drilling our way to Net Zero. “

Design by Fart Attack in Bristol

Brandalism’s Tona Merriman accused Barclays of falsely claiming to become a “net zero” bank while granting $ 4.4 billion in loans and bonds to fossil fuel companies in 2021 alone.

“The posters show environmental impacts that we don’t see in Barclays’ own ads: deforestation, ocean drilling, oil spills, wildfires, the threat to wildlife. They are a corrective right of reply to greenwash messages from the dirtiest bank in Europe.

“Before COP26, banks like Barclays will tell the world how much they are investing in renewable energy. But what’s more important is how much they keep pouring into fossil fuels. Simply put, it’s not enough to fund the good things, they must stop funding the bad too.

Design by Soofiya

The works were designed by 11 artists including Darren Cullen, Soofiya, Fokawolf, Merny Wernz, Rhonda Anaconda, Frank Riot, Michelle Tylicki, Inzione, Seize The Mean and F-Art-Attack.

Barclays has drawn criticism for being Europe’s largest fossil fuel financier, giving fossil fuel companies larger sums last year than any of its European competitors.

Pressure has increased on Barclays following the publication of new results by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The respected industry body has now said that to reach net zero by 2050, no new coal, oil or gas projects should be undertaken or funded.

Deisgn by Inzione in reading

The bank has pledged to net zero emissions by 2050 and campaigners argue that, according to the IEA findings, this means the bank should immediately pledge to stop all additional funding from companies expanding production and coal, oil and gas infrastructure.

Brandalism is an anonymous creative arts network that directly attacks corporate advertising structures. Intervening in advertising spaces that typically celebrate consumption, the group uses ‘subversion’ as a lens through which we can see the problems of social and environmental injustice that capitalism creates.

Scroll down below to see more spoofed advertisements from the protest.

Design by Rhonda in Norwich

Design by Polyp in Brighton

Design by Fokawolf in Brighton

Design by Merny Wernz in Bristol