TotalEnergies protest disrupts university event in Toulouse

Scientists and students interrupted a roundtable discussion regarding interdisciplinarity in the energy transition at Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse. The protest, led by the group ‘Scientifiques en rébellion’, targeted the presence of the multinational fossil fuel company TotalEnergies.

Protesters displayed a banner questioning the company’s environmental impact and criticized the relationship between the university and the corporation. Previous reports have highlighted a €3,000 contract between TotalEnergies and the university, which included clauses requiring the institution to refrain from communications that might harm the company’s reputation.

Activists also raised concerns regarding TotalEnergies’ continued investment in fossil fuel deposits and gas infrastructure, arguing that such activities are inconsistent with the 2015 Paris Agreement. They specifically noted that methane leaks during gas extraction and combustion can make gas more climate-damaging than coal.