Environmental (Commonwealth Union)_ The climate activism group Just Stop Oil (JSO) has declared that it will disband at the end of April, leaving behind a legacy of controversy, disruption, and undeniable influence. While its members have often been criticized as radical extremists and its tactics have been labeled as vandalism, the group claims victory, stating that its core demand, halting new oil and gas licenses, has now been embraced by the UK government. But does the move really signify a triumph, or is it merely a strategic retreat? And more importantly, does it mean an end to the chaos sparked by its protests?
Many have found JSO’s actions to be truly theatrical. On January 27, 2024, activist Hayley Walsh found herself seated in the audience at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, her pulse racing as she prepared for her moment. As Hollywood star Sigourney Weaver delivered a line from The Tempest, Walsh and fellow protestor Richard Weir seized their cue, storming the stage, launching confetti, and unfurling a banner reading, “Over 1.5 Degrees is a Global Shipwreck.” The stunt, which referenced the global temperature surpassing the 1.5C threshold, was a classic JSO protest: dramatic, visually striking, and impossible to ignore.
Reactions followed the usual pattern: boos from the audience, shouts of frustration, and inevitable media coverage. The result was the JSO method: bold actions targeting high-profile events, making statements in fluorescent orange, and forcing climate issues into the spotlight. But public sentiment was often outraged. In 2022, the group’s road blockades fueled a widespread backlash as activists scaled M25 gantries and caused four days of severe traffic disruption. The Metropolitan Police faced a staggering £1.1 million bill, while furious commuters missed flights, medical appointments, and exams. The Daily Mail called them “deranged,” The Sun branded them “eco-loons,” and politicians from all sides condemned their actions.
Yet, JSO’s impact on climate activism is undeniable. The group evolved from the spectacle-driven Extinction Rebellion (XR) in 2022, aiming to become sharper, smaller, and more militant. Inspired by movements like the Suffragettes and Gandhi’s civil disobedience campaigns, JSO honed a targeted approach. Their meticulous planning resulted in dozens of headline-grabbing actions, throwing soup on Van Gogh paintings, dust-bombing the World Snooker Championship, spray-painting Stonehenge, and even defacing Charles Darwin’s grave. They designed each act not only to garner attention but also to initiate a national dialogue on climate policy.
However, the backlash prompted swift legal crackdowns. New offenses such as interfering with national infrastructure, “locking on,” and tunneling gave law enforcement unprecedented powers to curb protests. Dozens of JSO activists have faced jail time, with five members receiving record-breaking multi-year sentences for their roles in the M25 demonstrations. While those sentences were later reduced, they remain among the harshest ever handed down for non-violent protest in the UK. Despite JSO’s official stance that legal pressures did not influence its decision to disband, it is impossible to ignore the mounting consequences for activists.
JSO insists that it has won its battle. “Just Stop Oil’s initial demand to end new oil and gas is now government policy, making us one of the most successful civil resistance campaigns in recent history,” the group announced. However, government officials have strongly denied any correlation, stating that while no new licenses are currently planned, oil and gas will remain part of the UK’s energy strategy for decades. JSO’s broader goal of ending fossil fuel production entirely remains far from realized.
The looming question now is: what comes next? The disbanding of JSO does not signal an end to climate activism. Some campaigners hint at shifting to clandestine methods, with new groups vowing to sabotage key fossil fuel infrastructure. One emerging organization has even released a manifesto detailing its intent to take direct action against major energy players. While JSO’s core members deny any involvement in such activities, co-founder Sarah Lunnon acknowledges that a new strategy is needed.
“We are creating a new approach, one that reflects the reality of our political and economic systems,” Lunnon stated. Many believe that the statement suggests the birth of a successor movement, one that may move away from street-level disruptions towards a more politically targeted agenda.
Even from prison, JSO co-founder Roger Hallam concedes that their impact has been “marginal” not due to a lack of effort, but because of government and corporate resistance. If anything, his message hints at a shift in focus: away from roadblocks and protest stunts and toward challenging the political system itself.
JSO has announced a final demonstration at the end of April, marking what they claim will be the last of their headline-grabbing actions: no more soup on paintings, no more street blockades. But activists have hinted at a rebirth under a different name, with new tactics and an evolving mission. If history is any guide, the fight is far from over.
