• Just Stop Oil activists sprayed "1.5 is dead" on Charles Darwin's grave.
• The protest aimed to draw attention to climate change and government inaction.
• Activists Alyson Lee and Di Bligh were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
• The incident follows confirmation of 2024 as the hottest on record globally.
• Westminster Abbey pledged immediate action to clean the memorial.

In a provocative act aimed at raising awareness about climate change, Just Stop Oil (JSO) activists defaced Charles Darwin's grave at Westminster Abbey, spray-painting "1.5 is dead." This act of vandalism occurred on a Monday morning, with the climate protest group declaring that 2024 marked the first year in which global temperatures officially surpassed the crucial threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Two women were apprehended by the Metropolitan Police for causing criminal damage, one of whom expressed concern that “the government is not doing enough” to tackle climate change.

According to a statement by JSO, Alyson Lee, 66, a retired teaching assistant from Derby, and Di Bligh, 77, a former chief executive of Reading Council from Somerset, participated in the protest to emphasize the urgency of the climate crisis. Lee argued that Darwin, a renowned biologist, would support their actions, stating, “I believe he would be following the science and would be as upset as us with the government for ignoring it.” Bligh echoed this sentiment, remarking, “There’s no hope for the world... Darwin would be turning in his grave because of the sixth mass extinction taking place now” as reported by BBC.

The incident has drawn considerable attention, especially in light of the recent findings from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, which confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record globally. This highlights the necessity of mitigating climate change challenges, as underscored by international efforts outlined in the Paris Agreement. A representative from Westminster Abbey stated that conservators are acting promptly to clean the memorial and do not anticipate any permanent damage, with the site remaining open for visitors and worshipers. Thus, the dialogue surrounding climate action continues to gain momentum, further motivating groups like JSO to engage in direct activism.