PARIS, May 17 Reuters Environmental activists briefly disrupted BNP Paribas39; annual shareholder meeting in Paris on Tuesday, accusing France39;s largest listed bank of being Europe39;s main financing partner for the fossil energies sector.

Fourteen activists sounded portable alarms when the bank39;s executives presented the firm39;s targets and actions in the fight against climate change.

In a statement, the activists also criticized BNP Paribas39; ties with TotalEnergies, pointing out BNP Paribas39; financing links with the French oil and energy giant.

Climate change has become increasingly important for governments and corporations around the world, with many environmental activists targeting annual general meetings. The Lloyd39;s of London insurance market said this month that its annual general meeting AGM faced the threat of climate protests. 

The BNP Paribas shareholder meeting, held near the Louvre Museum, was disrupted during 20 minutes.

BNP Paribas chief executive JeanLaurent Bonnafe defended the bank39;s loan to TotalEnergies at the meeting, saying it was not aimed at financing fossil energies activities but rather to help TotalEnergies39; general financial position, given volatility in energy markets after Russia39;s invasion of Ukraine.

BNP Paribas had also pledged earlier this month to end most new financing for oil production in the Amazon rainforest and said it would reduce its financed emissions intensity in the energy and auto sectors. 

Reporting…