Mass gatherings have been banned in France since a state of emergency was declared in the wake of the Paris attacks
Activists have posted over 600 pieces of satirical artwork around Paris, in protest against the “greenwashing” of the climate change talks.
The group’s work argues that the companies that are sponsoring and linking themselves with the major talks are using it as a form of marketing. It says that the action was intended to point out “the links between advertising, consumerism, fossil fuel dependency and climate change”.
The group said that the action was directly linked to the banning of protest since the Paris attacks. Activists have used a range of novel ways of protesting without mass gatherings, which included placing their shoes in a central square rather than standing there themselves.
The group covered up posters from JC Decaux, one of the world’s biggest outdoor advertising firms and a sponsor of the climate talks. Many of the posters they used to do so mocked other companies, including Air France and Volkswagen.
In a statement, the group explicitly linked their activity with the ban on mass gatherings that has been in place since a state of emergency was declared soon after the Paris attacks.
“"Following the tragic events on 13th November in Paris, the government has chosen to ban the big civilsociety mobilisations - but big business events can continue,” a member of the group said in a statement.
“The multinationals responsible for climate change can keep greenwashing their destructive business models, but the communities directly impacted by them are silenced. It's now more important than ever to call out their lies and speak truth to power.
Climate change protests around the world
People rally to promote climate protection in Rome, Italy Hundreds of demonstrators gather in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA People hold hands to form a human chain during a gathering called by ecologist organisations in Marseille, southern France, to protest against global warming a day ahead of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) held in Paris Demonstrators clash with French riot police during protests on Place de la Republique, ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France Demonstrators clash with French riot police during a protest on Place de la Republique ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France A group of people perform during a rally to promote climate protection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil A protester sits next to his sign that reads 'Monsanto the Devil Incorporated ' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Environmentalists dance during a protest near the Place de la Republique after the cancellation of a planned climate march following shootings in the French capital, ahead of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21), in Paris, France Reuters People protest next to characters dressed as wild animals during a march against climate change near the Monument to the Revolution, in Mexico City AP Protesters carries a banner while they take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York Reuters People take part in a protest about climate change around New York City Hall at lower Manhattan, New York Reuters People rally to promote climate protection in Piazza Castello, Turin, Italy A woman holds a globe during a protest for the global climate day in Lugano, Switzerland Yemenis hold banners as they participate in the Global March for Climate in the old city of Sanaía, Yemen Protesters dressed as Santa Claus take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York Reuters People gather at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, during the Global Climate March to demand action on climate change telling world leaders on the eve of a crunch UN summit that there is "no planet B". From Sydney to London, humid Rio to chilly New York, at least 683,000 hit the streets in 2,300 events across 175 countries at the weekend, co-organiser and campaign group Avaaz said, calling it the largest number of people to protest over climate change all at once Getty Images Demonstrators participate in the Global March for Climate in Athens, Greece A man wearing a Bernie Sanders mask leads hundreds of demonstrators who marched near City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Patricia Hauser joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California A woman holds a poster of a sick Earth as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Hundreds of demonstrators march around City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA A demonstrator holds cut-out of US Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA George Patten holds a sign that reads 'No Fracking Ever!' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Gabrielle Sosa wears 'Rising Sea Levels' sign as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA “We call on people to take to thestreets during the COP21 to confront the fossil fuel industry. We cannot leave the climate talks in the hands of politicians and corporate lobbyists who created this mess in the first place."
Some of the work was created by famous artists, including those that featured in Banksy’s Dismaland exhibition in England earlier this year.