Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been fined $172 and banned from entering Venice for two days after participating in a coordinated Extinction Rebellion protest that involved dyeing the Grand Canal green, as reported by multiple outlets. The action, part of a larger campaign across ten Italian cities, aimed to draw attention to the effects of climate change, particularly the threat of rising sea levels to vulnerable coastal cities like Venice.
The environmental group Extinction Rebellion defended its tactics, stating the fluorescent, non-toxic dye used in the protest was commonly employed in environmental studies to track water flow and monitor leaks. They emphasized that the dye posed no ecological threat and was part of a broader effort to raise awareness about climate collapse. The protest coincided with the recently concluded COP30 United Nations climate conference in Brazil, where Extinction Rebellion had criticized the Italian government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for resisting stronger climate action.
Veneto Province Governor Luca Zaia condemned the protest, calling it a