TotalEnergies shareholders rejected an activist resolution on Friday urging faster cuts to the oil major’s greenhouse gas emissions programme after police intervened to stop climate protesters disrupting its annual general meeting.

The resolution, filed by climate group Follow This and 17 institutional investors with a total 1.1 trillion euros under management, obtained 30.44% of votes, up from a 17% vote share result in 2020, the last time a similar resolution was put forward.

Outside the venue in central Paris, the smell of teargas from earlier clashes hung in the air and police used pepper spray as they dragged some protesters away to free a path for shareholders through several hundred climate activists.

All those attending the meeting were required to place phones in sealed satchels for its duration.

[That’s the way to stand your ground. Of course, it does help if the police actually protect you from rampaging loons. ~ Beege]