Security shields shell CEO as climate protesters storm AGM

London: Security staff shielded Shell CEO Wael Sawan and company directors as climate protesters tried to take to the stage at the energy giant's annual shareholder meeting in London on Tuesday.

Proceedings at the meeting opened after an hour of disruptions as protestors were carried out by dozens of security staff. At one point, security staff formed a human chain on stage to shield executives and directors from protestors.

"Go to hell, Shell, and don't you come back no more," a choir of about a dozen protesters sang as they called for Shell to stop producing fossil fuels, with Sawan and Chairman Andrew Mackenzie watching. "We've heard this point many times now," Mackenzie told the protesters. "Wouldn't it be nice to have this debate rather than saying the same thing over and over again."

He added that Shell's investment in lower-carbon solutions that earn smaller returns than oil and gas projects shows it is taking climate change seriously.

Shell, which reported a record $40 billion profit last year, and other major hydrocarbon producers argue that they have to help cover rising demand for oil and gas.