Camilla Jessen
Greta Thunberg banned from Venice after green-dye protest.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been banned from Venice and fined after taking part in a protest that turned canals bright green.
The action, carried out Saturday with members of Extinction Rebellion (XR), targeted waterways across Italy.
Videos posted by the group showed activists dyeing rivers and canals neon green in an effort to highlight what they call “ecocide” driven by climate inaction.
Protest across the country
Thunberg was among several activists demonstrating in Trieste, where the waters of the Grande Canal were dyed using fluorescein, a biodegradable dye commonly used for tracing water flows.
Police issued €150 fines to Thunberg and 35 others and temporarily barred them from Venice. Eight activists were detained for hours for identification before being released with additional complaints, XR Italy said on social media.
The group defended the action in an Instagram post, insisting the dye was environmentally harmless and accusing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government of blocking ambitious climate efforts ahead of Cop30.
“Stop the ecocide,” the group wrote, arguing Italy’s policies reflect “the depredation of ecosystems for economic exploitation” and a failure to address climate collapse.
Backlash from officials
Regional governor Luca Zaia sharply criticized the stunt, calling it “a disrespectful act towards our city, its history and its fragility.”
He warned the move risked environmental damage, despite XR’s assurances about the safety of the dye.
Zaia’s comments echoed wider frustration among Italian officials, who viewed the sudden discoloration of waterways as reckless.
Sources: The Sun, Extinction Rebellion Italy, Unilad
