Activists Target Munich Security Conference Over Energy Dependence
Munich, Germany – Greenpeace activists initiated a protest at the start of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on February 13, 2026, drawing attention to Europe's continued dependence on liquid gas supplies from both Russia and the United States. The demonstration in Munich aimed to pressure European leaders to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources and sever ties with fossil fuel imports.
The protest involved unfurling a substantial 15x6 meter banner atop a tower crane near the conference site, bearing the message 'Break free from tyrants'. Concurrently, on Marienplatz, activists deployed 10-meter-long inflatable representations of Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump, depicted sitting on a gas tanker. This imagery symbolized Europe's reliance on fossil fuel imports from what Greenpeace described as 'tyrants'. Additional banners at Marienplatz called for 'Sichere Energie statt Gas-Abhängigkeit' (Safe energy instead of gas dependency).
Greenpeace Highlights Financial and Geopolitical Risks of Gas Imports
Greenpeace Germany's fossil fuel campaigner, Lisa Göldner, emphasized the organization's core message, stating, 'We are here today to highlight a very concrete security threat for Europe: its energy import dependency, and its growing reliance on gas from the US.' Göldner further noted that Europe risks 'replacing one unreliable gas dealer for another' by shifting from Russian gas to US imports.
The environmental group presented figures indicating the scale of Europe's commitment to US gas. Since 2022, EU-headquartered companies have reportedly signed contracts worth an estimated €190-€210 billion for US liquefied gas. Many of these agreements extend beyond 2035, the year by which the European Union aims to completely phase out fossil gas to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Greenpeace calculations also suggest that European countries have spent approximately €2.8 billion on US gas since the beginning of 2026, with an average of two tankers carrying US liquefied gas arriving in Europe daily.
Call for Renewable Energy Transition and Policy Changes
Greenpeace urged leaders attending the Munich Security Conference to prioritize energy independence through homegrown renewable energy. The organization called for the EU to:
- Withdraw from the commitment to purchase $750 billion worth of US energy by 2028.
- Halt all negotiations for additional purchase agreements with US gas suppliers.
- Commit to not signing new contracts and gradually terminate all existing supply contracts by 2035 at the latest.
The activists underscored that true energy security for Europe lies in phasing out fossil gas and accelerating the shift to a fully renewable energy system. The Munich Security Conference, an annual event focusing on international security policy, includes climate and energy security among its discussion topics.
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