Climate activists glue themselves to Botticelli's Primavera at Uffizi

Three activists from the Italian group Ultima Generazione glued their hands to the protective glass of Sandro Botticelli's Primavera at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence on the morning of July 22, 2022, around 10:30 AM. They unfurled a banner reading "Ultima Generazione No Gas No Carbone" and shared a video on Instagram explaining their action. The protest is part of a wave of similar demonstrations in museums worldwide, including the Royal Academy and National Gallery in London. The activists, two women and one man aged 20–29, demanded the government immediately halt the reopening of decommissioned coal plants and cancel new gas drilling projects, while increasing solar and wind energy. They stated their goal is to pressure the government into bolder action against ecological and social collapse, drawing a parallel between protecting cultural heritage and protecting the planet. The trio was removed by museum security and handed over to the Carabinieri; they face charges of interruption of public service, resistance to a public official, unauthorized demonstration, and defacement of property. The Uffizi confirmed that the painting suffered no damage.