Just Stop Oil

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Just Stop Oil (JSO) was a British environmental group formed on 14 February 2022 with the aim of ending new fossil fuel licensing and production in the United Kingdom. It described itself as decentralised, with activists operating in autonomous blocs and sharing resources but without a formal leadership. The group used civil resistance, nonviolent direct action, traffic disruption, and, at times, vandalism to pressure the government to act. It also supported investment in renewables and better building insulation to save energy.

Funding and structure
JSO said it was financed entirely by donations, including funds from the Climate Emergency Fund and individual donors such as Aileen Getty. In October 2023, green entrepreneur Dale Vince publicly suspended his funding, saying protest would be less effective under the current government.

Protests and tactics
From 2022 through 2025, Just Stop Oil carried out a wide range of actions across the UK:
- Blockades of oil facilities and roads, and attempts to disrupt petrol distribution.
- Disruptions at high-profile events and venues, including sports matches, theatres, and art galleries.
- Vandalism and “soft” defacements of buildings and objects associated with fossil fuels or political power.
- Targeted campaigns aimed at political and business institutions linked to the fossil fuel industry.
- Strikes, sit-ins, and climber protests at locations such as bridges and oil terminals, sometimes drawing thousands of arrests.

Notable incidents
- October 2022: Tomato soup thrown at Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers in the National Gallery; other art protests followed at works by Van Gogh, John Constable, Leonardo da Vinci, and more.
- 2022–2024: Major disruptions across London and other cities, including blockades of the M25 and petrol stations, targeted buildings, and road closures.
- 2023–2024: Protests at cultural sites, universities, and major public events; some protests interrupted sports and entertainment events.
- 2024: Vandalism at Stonehenge drew widespread condemnation from politicians and heritage groups.
- 2024–2025: Several activists received multi-year prison sentences for planning or committing public nuisance offenses.

Legal and public reaction
The protests sparked a heavy police response and many arrests. Some actions were widely criticized as damaging public support for climate causes, while others defended them as necessary to force government action on climate change. Courts handed down lengthy sentences to some members, highlighting the legal risks of the group’s tactics.

Dissolution and aftermath
On 27 March 2025, Just Stop Oil announced it would disband in April 2025 and regroup under a new banner with less confrontational tactics. The group claimed a victory in ending new fossil fuel licenses, though others argued this goal had not been achieved and that the broader climate crisis had grown worse. Critics noted the protests sometimes hindered public life and drew opposition rather than broad political support.

Later 2025 developments
Around late 2025, reports emerged of a disputed culture within the group, including accusations of inappropriate behavior. A new group, Take Back Power, formed from people previously linked to Just Stop Oil, aiming to address democracy, inequality, and other issues beyond fossil fuels.