Greenpeace abseil from Forth Road Bridge

The Forth Road Bridge was closed on Friday afternoon following a protest by members of Greenpeace, the environmental organisation.

Around ten people (described by Greenpeace as highly trained) abseiled over the side of the bridge aiming to demonstrate against a tanker heading for Grangemouth docks with what protesters believe is a cargo of fracked gas.

The Ineos Independence is believed to be carrying the cargo to the INEOS plant in the port but Greenpeace say the company and its owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe have opposed efforts by UN Member States to secure a Global Plastics Treaty to curb plastic pollution. INEOS is the UK’s biggest plastics manufacturer and described the Greenpeace demo as “dangerous, disruptive and entirely counterproductive”.

The action comes a fortnight before governments meet in Geneva, Switzerland, for the sixth and final round of negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty (5-14 August).

Greenpeace is calling for these talks to agree to a cut in global plastic production of at least 75% by 2040, and for the UN to exclude lobbyists from INEOS and other fossil fuels companies from the treaty negotiations. The campaigning organisation say that plastics producers including INEOS have collectively sent hundreds of lobbyists to exert their influence at every stage of the talks so far, and that lobbyists have used tactics such as intimidation and harassment, to block an agreement that includes caps on plastic production.

Amy Cameron, Programme Director at Greenpeace UK said: “Plastic pollution has reached a crisis point: it’s poisoning our land, seas, air, even our bodies. The Global Plastics Treaty offers us a once in a generation chance to tackle the problem for good, so it’s no surprise INEOS and its billionaire boss, Jim Ratcliffe, are doing everything they can to stop it.

“Ratcliffe tries to distract us with sports teams and sponsorships, but we’re not going to let him fill our planet with plastic, so he can fill his pockets with profit. Ratcliffe is trying to block a strong Global Plastics Treaty, so today we’re blocking him.”

The Greenpeace protest comes during Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland. A spokesperson for Greenpeace said: “Over the past three years, INEOS Energy has made investments exceeding $3 billion  in the US oil and gas sector, and the US petrochemicals industry is investing heavily in new chemical and plastics production projects. Like INEOS, US Fossil Fuel giants are attempting to weaken the Global Plastics Treaty to avoid caps on virgin plastic production.”

Police Scotland issued a statement earlier that the Forth Road Bridge – which is only used by public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, had been closed. A spokesperson said: “Officers are in attendance and engaging with those involved. Please avoid the area.”