- ‘They did as much as they could. It’s now in the hands of government to act,’ says Oxford biologist Tristram Wyatt

- ‘We can always be there as a resistance … As long as there’s some resistance in some form, it’s going to help,’ says group member Philip

- ‘This is not the end. The resistance carries on for our children, for the young generations to come, for nature,’ says environmentalist Diana

LONDON

As UK-based climate group Just Stop Oil winds down its direct action campaign after three years of headline-grabbing protests, its members say the movement’s influence is far from over.

For many involved, it marks not an end, but the beginning of a new phase of climate resistance – one that targets the powerful institutions enabling fossil fuel expansion.

Just Stop Oil staged its final demonstration in London over the weekend, concluding its street actions aimed at forcing the British government to commit to ending new fossil fuel licenses. Since its founding in 2022, the group’s supporters have been arrested 3,300 times and imprisoned 180 times, according to reports, becoming a symbol of the growing frustration among climate activists with government inaction.

Although their signature orange vests may now disappear from Britain’s streets, activists insist the movement’s spirit will continue.

In an interview with Anadolu, Tristram Wyatt, a biologist and award-winning author from the University of Oxford, said the group had “the right idea,” and praised their efforts.

“They did as much as they could. It’s now in the hands of government to act,” he said.

Wyatt pointed to the increasing legal restrictions placed on protest movements as a major reason for Just Stop Oil’s shift away from street actions.

“I think they may have achieved all that they can, given the repressive laws that have been introduced over the last two years, and in particular, the way that the judges have been directing the courts in ways that peaceful protest is almost no longer allowed,” he said.

Looking ahead, Wyatt believes that climate activism will focus more sharply on holding the fossil fuel industry and its enablers accountable.

“I think we’re going to have a real focus on the people who are causing the problem, and that’s the oil corporations, but also the insurers, the lawyers, the accountants, all the enablers of that continued drilling for fossil fuel,” he said.

Criticizing policymakers for their slow response to the climate crisis, he stressed the urgency of stronger action.

“The government acknowledges that it has to stop, but when it comes to stopping in time, they’re very reluctant,” he said.

Citing UN chief Antonio Guterres, Wyatt noted that governments worldwide “are not acting fast enough” to curb climate change, with the impacts already evident in the form of extreme weather events.

For Wyatt, food security remains one of the deepest concerns, as he warns that increasing and more frequent droughts around the world “put all of us in danger.”

‘This is not the end’

For members of Just Stop Oil, the final demonstration was not a farewell, but a declaration that the movement will evolve.

Philip, who joined the group two years ago, said his involvement has deepened his sense of urgency about the climate crisis.

“I am now more alarmed about the future for the planet, for my children, my grandchildren. I’ve got to fight for it. I think everyone started thinking of the future,” he told Anadolu.

Philip emphasized that regardless of what form future resistance takes, he remains committed.

“We can always be there as a resistance, doesn’t matter how small it is, because we know it works, and as long as there’s some resistance in some form, it’s going to help,” he said.

He stressed that activists should not be viewed as disruptors but as part of the solution, calling on the public to think long-term to save the planet’s future.

Diana, a longtime environmentalist, echoed Philip’s sentiments, commending the group’s commitment to non-violence and their success in drawing attention to the issue.

“We are facing ecological and climate breakdown, which means societal breakdown, which means we won’t have pensions, we won’t have social security. We won’t have order in society when there’s no food because of the climate breakdown,” she warned.

Asked about her emotions at the final demonstration, Diana expressed hope and determination.

“This is not the end. The resistance carries on for our children, for the young generations to come, for nature,” she said.

“We’ve sowed the seeds of resistance against the big businesses and destruction of our society, nature, communities,” she said.