Biba 2025: Extinction Rebellion target conference for third year

Climate activists protested outside the Biba Conference in Manchester today (14 May 2025) to demand that the industry stops backing fossil fuel projects.

Beginning outside Manchester Central from 8am, the protest featured a life-sized model of a ‘sinking’ Lamborghini sports car to highlight the risks of extreme weather caused by climate crisis.

There was also a climate choir, samba drummers, street theatre, synchronised dance and testimonies by people affected by extreme weather.

This is the third year Biba has been a target, with the protest being organised by members of Extinction Rebellion (XR), Friends of the Earth, Manchester Greenpeace and the Insure Our Survival campaign.

Protester statement

A spokesperson for the protest said: “Large fossil fuel projects can’t go ahead without insurance. Unlike the oil companies, who publicly deny the science and have no other game they play, insurance companies know the risks of climate inaction and are seeing their entire business model threatened by extreme weather from climate change.

“Biba needs to decide if ‘A New Era’ means floods, fires, heat waves and climate chaos, or one where brokers refuse to cover carbon bomb projects.”