• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Sunday, October 19, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Royal Philharmonic Orchestra brings benchmark music-making and inclusive concerts to Reading in 2025–26

    Starbucks closes after a year at retail park in Reading

    Arrest made after woman left in serious condition following fail to stop road traffic collision in Reading

    Ella hits hat-trick for Sumas

    Reading planning round-up: Promotion continues for 209 flats development near town centre

    Reading councillors welcome Palestinian statehood and roadmap to peace

    Reading to receive over £1M in funding to help tackle homelessness

    Reading Buses driver shortlisted for top national award in bus sector

    Embracing diversity in Reading as Hongkongers celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Reading FC: Noel Hunt confirms injury for Joel Pereira

    Pressure remains on Hunt as Reading FC stay in League One relegation zone after defeat

    Ella hits hat-trick for Sumas

    Reading RFC President Yasmin Miller honoured as a pioneer of Women’s Rugby

    Reynolds has mixed emotions as Rams earn home success over Birmingham Moseley

    Fitness concerns over Joel Pereira as Reading FC recall goalkeeper

    Wareham issues message to Reading FC fans after ‘hate and abuse’ during game

    Britain’s richest raceday descends on Ascot: A chance to see the world’s best flat horses at QIPCO British Champions day

    Reading FC: Time for a change or keep the faith?

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • READING FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • JOBS
  • MORE…
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

Extinction Rebellion protestors hold demo outside reopened HSBC in Reading town centre

James Aldridge, local democracy reporter by James Aldridge, local democracy reporter
Monday, August 8, 2022 6:06 am
in Featured, Reading
A A
Extinction Rebellion campaigners at the reopening of HSBC in Broad Street, Reading. Credit: Extinction Rebellion Reading

Extinction Rebellion campaigners at the reopening of HSBC in Broad Street, Reading. Credit: Extinction Rebellion Reading

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Climate campaigners Extinction Rebellion held a protest outside the HSBC in Reading town centre when it reopened after a three month-long closure.

The HSBC in Broad Street reopening on Monday, August 1, and staff were met with an Extinction Rebellion protest, with campaigners claiming the bank helps fund oil and gas companies that are damaging the environment.

Protesters were seen holding mock police tape stating “climate crime scene” up to the building, as well as an End Fossil Fuels Now banner.

They also brought out mock HSBC advertising, stating “we are climate crisis” and “today, you’re ‘on mute’, tomorrow you’re on target for 3°C global warming.

Campaigners have cited the Banking on Climate Crisis: Fossil Fuel Finance Report 2022 as proof of their concerns.

According to the report, HSBC invested $17.976 billion in companies involved in fossil fuel extraction in 2021.

Related posts

Debate lingers over Berkshire joining forces with Swindon council leaders

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra brings benchmark music-making and inclusive concerts to Reading in 2025–26

Starbucks closes after a year at retail park in Reading

Reading FC: Noel Hunt confirms injury for Joel Pereira

Between 2016 and 2021, the report states HSBC invested $130.468 billion in “companies active across the fossil fuel life cycle”.

HSBC has also underwritten corporate bonds for energy companies QatarEnergy, ExxonMobil, BP and Saudi Aramco.

Underwriting means to insure against a debt, in this context, to the financial risk of fossil fuel extraction projects.

HSBC is not the only bank to underwrite such bonds, with others such as Barclays and Lloyds doing the same.

The Broad Street-based bank has been closed for refurbishment for around three months.

It is understood the bank has downsized, with space it used to occupy now available to another business.

Earlier this year, HSBC announced three steps it would be taking to get to net zero emissions by 2050.

It has committed to publishing a Climate Transition Plan next year outlining its strategy to reach climate targets in 2030 and 2050; has committed to phasing down fossil fuel financing; and review and update its wider financing and investment policies.

On financing fossil fuel companies, a statement on HSBC’s website reads: “We’re committing to a science-aligned phase down of fossil fuel financing, in line with what is required to seek to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

“We’ll be engaging with clients to review their transition plans for compatibility with our net zero 2050 target, and will assess whether to continue providing financing for a client if no transition plans are produced.”

Celine Herweijer, the group’s chief sustainability officer, said: “HSBC understands that the sudden energy crisis that the world finds itself in will necessitate actions in the short-term around energy security.

“Our clients, like us, are operating in this new reality, but the longer-term imperative over the coming decades to transform business models for a net zero future remains unchanged.

“If anything, the current crisis should galvanise the need to supercharge investment into the clean energy transition.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has also requested a statement from HSBC on the Broad Street branch refurbishment and address points raised by Extinction Rebellion.

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Previous Post

Reading Borough Council’s ‘banking fail’ for investing £15 million in Qatari bank

Next Post

Reading Buses could run matchday services for Reading FC Women’s games – but only if demand is there

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • ‘We should have signed him’: Former Reading FC loanee hits hat-trick for new club

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Wareham issues message to Reading FC fans after ‘hate and abuse’ during game

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC keep long-standing league record after Liverpool lose at Crystal Palace

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC player retires from professional football

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ‘It’s flattering’: Gareth Ainsworth reacts to Reading FC links

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • READING FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.