Insulate Britain protests

Insulate Britain protests
Insulate Britain hold a press conference outside the Home Office, London (22 September 2021)
Date
13 September 2021 – 4 November 2021
Location
Birmingham, London, M25 motorway, Manchester, Port of Dover
GoalsGovernment-funded nationwide home insulation
MethodsTraffic obstruction, civil disobedience
StatusEnded; self-declared failure

A series of protests by the group Insulate Britain involving traffic obstruction began on 13 September 2021.[1] The group blockaded the M25 and other motorways in the United Kingdom, and roads in London and the Port of Dover.

The protesters demand that the government improve the insulation of all social housing in the UK by 2025 and retrofit all homes with improved insulation by 2030.[2] Improved insulation of homes would likely reduce the use of fuel, such as natural gases and oil, to adjust the internal temperature, thus improving energy efficiency in British housing and mitigating climate change.

The group has drawn support from some, but condemnation from others, including individuals within the government.

On 17 November 2021, nine protesters were imprisoned for breaching an injunction against road blockade protests.[3] On 2 February 2022, five protesters were imprisoned for the same reason, with eleven others receiving suspended sentences.[4]

  1. ^ "Port of Dover: Arrests made as Insulate Britain blocks port". BBC News. 24 September 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Home Insulation: Environmental Considerations". Insulation Institute. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Insulate Britain protesters jailed for defying road blockade ban". BBC News. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Insulate Britain activists jailed over M25 protest". BBC News. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.