EXTINCTION REBELLION (XR) issued an ultimatum to insurance bosses today as the climate group gears up for a week of protests across the country.

A letter from the activists landed in the inboxes of senior executives at all British-based firms who continue to insure fossil fuel organisations driving climate breakdown.

The group urged the companies to make a pledge to stop insuring all oil, gas and coal projects — or face actions and protests later this month. 

“Our aim will be to permanently toxify your brand in the minds of public and business communities,” the letter warned.

Thousands are expected to flood the City of London from October 28 to join a wave of direct actions as part of XR’s Insure Our Survival campaign.

After three days of intensive action in the capital, the campaign will expand its reach, targeting insurers in towns and cities across Britain. 

Insure Our Survival spokesman Steve Tooze said that insurers are “choosing to bet on profits from underwriting oil, gas and coal projects that are accelerating the climate crisis to levels that could destroy our civilisation in our lifetimes.”

He added: “In effect, insurers are insuring the worst people in the world to dig up more fossil fuels that cause extreme weather and flood our homes. 

“Then they are charging us more and more to insure our homes against the increasing risk of flooding.” 

But he pointed out that there still lies an opportunity for insurance bosses to be “heroes” by cutting ties with fossil fuel companies and taking a stand against the destruction of our planet.