Greta Thunberg, the renowned climate campaigner, has received a 48-hour exclusion order from Venice, Italy, after taking part in an Extinction Rebellion demonstration that turned the Grand Canal a vivid green, as reported by various sources.
The 22-year-old from Sweden was fined $172, alongside approximately 35 other activists who participated in the event, according to The Telegraph.
Extinction Rebellion climate activists protest in Venice (Manuel Silvestri/Reuters)
According to Extinction Rebellion, the bright green dye was a fluorescent, non-toxic marker often used in environmental research, such as tracing water currents or detecting leaks. The organization emphasized that the dye did not harm the environment.
The activists stated that their actions aimed to “highlight the severe consequences of climate change,” noting that Venice is particularly at risk among European cities due to rising sea levels and more frequent flooding.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg prepares for departure with other activists on the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian expedition to Gaza, at the port of Barcelona, Spain Aug. 31, 2025. (Eva Manez/Reuters)
Thunberg’s protest took place just as the COP30 United Nations climate conference ended in Brazil, with Extinction Rebellion coordinating actions in ten Italian cities.
These included dyeing fountains in Genoa and Padova and turning rivers green in Turin, Bologna and Taranto.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was banned from Venice after participating in coordinated Extinction Rebellion actions across ten Italian cities. (Getty)
Their banner “Stop Ecocide” also hung from the iconic Rialto Bridge in Venice, while a silent flash-mob of protesters dressed in red veils moved through dense tourist crowds.
Veneto Province Gov. Luca Zaia said Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion’s stunt was “a gesture that risks having consequences for the environment.”
Zaia also criticized the action as “a disrespectful act towards our city, its history and its fragility.”
Extinction Rebellion had also criticized the Italian government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for resisting stronger climate measures at the Brazilian COP30 event.
