Climate Activists Face Heavy Jail Terms for Protesting Fossil Gas

• On October 27, 2021, Greenpeace activists blocked the arrival of the gas tanker 'Merchant' at the port of Sagunto, Spain, to protest its shipment of 138,000 cubic meters of fracked fossil gas.
• The Public Prosecutor's Office is seeking a five-year prison sentence for each of the 11 activists involved, citing public disorder; the trial is scheduled for September 23, 2026, in Valencia.

Judicial Repression and the Chilling Effect

• Activists argue that these disproportionate penalties are designed to set a judicial precedent and deter future climate protests.
• The prosecution is viewed as an attempt to suppress dissent against powerful economic interests, contributing to a documented decline in environmental activism since 2023 due to the 'chilling effect' of ongoing legal harassment.

Exposing the Fossil Gas Narrative

• Greenpeace contends that fossil gas, despite being marketed as a 'clean' transition fuel, is as destructive as coal or oil and must be removed from the energy mix to prevent climate collapse.
• The protest aimed to challenge the pro-gas narrative promoted by multinationals like Naturgy, Repsol, and Moeves to justify infrastructure investments.
• Participants emphasize that peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic pillar for protecting collective rights, not a privilege granted by institutions.