Baker Street has temporarily become “Baking Street”, Tottenham Court Road has become “Hottenham Court Road” and London Bridge has become “London’s Burning”. Greenpeace UK has changed the name of some London Underground stations during the heat wave of recent days to raise awareness of the climate crisis and has once again put Shell in its sights.
The international environmental organization has carried out a new action, relying on guerrilla marketing to warn of the impact of the fossil fuel industry on climate change and the gradual increase in temperatures. It has done so at a time when some cities in the United Kingdom, such as London, have exceeded 36 degrees, very unusual figures.
Using stickers whose design emulated the visual identity of the London Underground, Greenpeace has covered station signs to link their names to concepts related to heat and rising temperatures. In addition, he has accompanied each new name with the message “Brought to you by Shell” (Courtesy of Shell).
The organization’s objective has been to denounce once again the energy dependence on fossil fuels and link it to an unprecedented heat wave in the country. To do this, he has turned to some of the capital’s busiest enclaves, turning them into a creative canvas on which to display word games to attract the attention of passers-by.
In addition, Greenpeace activists also placed stickers with the slogan “Heat Wave: Courtesy of Shell” on subway signs warning of high temperatures and shared with users recommendations for using public transportation during the heat wave. They have also “hacked” newspaper headlines related to the climate emergency at kiosks and press stands in metro stations.
The goal has been to remind passengers that the record heat is due, in large part, to the burning of fossil fuels and, consequently, to the companies that still depend on, market and promote them. The action took place in one of the most intense periods of heat that the United Kingdom has experienced in its history. The highest temperature, 36.7 degrees, was recorded on Thursday 24 June in Gosport, Hampshire.
The action also aligns with data collected by Greenpeace in recent days. It has collected thermal images of sidewalks, train platforms, construction sites and playgrounds across London, revealing how everyday life has taken place on scorching surfaces and how everyday life can be harmed by the heat. According to the organization, the surfaces of areas such as Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus and Regent Street have reached 56 degrees.
