Antwerp – Extinction Rebellion staged protests at three BNP Paribas Fortis branches in Antwerp, Knokke, and Ghent on August 29, 2025, condemning the bank’s $12 billion funding of fossil fuel projects and its ties to Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, reports 24brussels.
Demonstrators gathered at BNP Paribas Fortis locations on Meir, Londenstraat, and Amerikalei at 12:05 PM. This action was part of a broader campaign to hold the financial institution accountable for alleged complicity in the global arms trade and fossil fuel financing.
In addition to the Antwerp protests, similar actions took place in Knokke and Ghent, where activists criticized the bank for its financial support of both environmentally harmful and militaristic projects. According to Extinction Rebellion, the bank’s involvement with Elbit Systems contributes to human rights abuses against Palestinians.
Extinction Rebellion’s Demands for BNP Paribas Fortis
Activists highlighted a recent United Nations report that implicated BNP Paribas in various human rights violations, including damage to Palestinian infrastructure and civilian casualties caused by its financial backing of the defense sector.
“Through initiatives like FairFin’s BankWizer, customers can check how sustainably and socially responsible their bank operates. Switching to an ethical bank is an act of resistance. It’s a concrete way for citizens to exercise their power,”
the group declared. Extinction Rebellion called on consumers to choose ethical banking options and urged financial institutions to cease their involvement in fossil fuels and associations with conflict-linked companies.
Police were present at the protest sites, conducting identity checks and issuing administrative fines for involvement in the unauthorized demonstrations. Extinction Rebellion vowed to persist in their actions until BNP Paribas modifies its investment strategy to adhere to international climate and human rights standards.
Activists asserted that BNP Paribas injected approximately $12 billion into fossil fuel initiatives in 2023, including controversial projects in the Arctic, a region viewed as critically endangered. They argued that such investments contradict the Paris Climate Agreement and hinder efforts to transition away from fossil fuel reliance.
Despite the bank’s claims of promoting renewable energy, the majority of its funding continues to fuel fossil fuel ventures. Extinction Rebellion emphasized that their campaign would not cease until the bank aligns its practices with global climate agreements.
Since March 15, 2025, Extinction Rebellion has specifically targeted BNP Paribas Fortis in Belgium, initiating their campaign with a protest at the Meir branch in Antwerp. The movement has expanded to other cities, featuring events in Bruges and Ghent that included dramatic die-ins and street theater to raise awareness of these critical issues. Another significant demonstration took place on August 22, 2025, in Ghent, where activists reiterated their demand for the bank to cease financing the oil, gas, and arms sectors associated with conflicts.
