STORY: The water in Venice’s Grand Canal was turned bright green on Saturday (November 22) as part of a nationwide protest by Extinction Rebellion activists during the final days of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Demonstrators in traditional Venetian dress, wearing red costumes and white-painted faces, held flags bearing the group’s emblem. Greta Thunberg was also present at the Venice action, according to the group.

The group said the action was part of a coordinated campaign in 10 Italian cities using fluorescein - a sodium salt used to trace water flows - and aimed to denounce what activists called the Italian government’s “ecocidal policies.”

“We are symbolically turning waters green because this is the world current climate policies are dragging us toward,” the group said in a statement.

President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, condemned the act as “an attack on our heritage” and called it vandalism.

The canal has been targeted previously by environmental activists during what they say is perceived in action at former COP summits.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: VENICE, ITALY (NOVEMBER 22, 2025) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. VARIOUS OF BRIGHT GREEN WATER IN VENICE GRAND CANAL, GONDOLAS ON CANAL

2. BOATS OF CANAL, RIALTO BRIDGE

3. VARIOUS OF EXTINCTION REBELLION ACTIVISTS DRESSED IN RED WITH WHITE PAINTED FACES, STANDING ON RIALTO BRIDGE

4. ACTIVISTS DRESSED IN RED WALKING NEXT TO THE CANAL

5. CANAL WITH GREEN WATER