The NatWest climate protest meeting in Edinburgh turned tense when activists disrupted the annual shareholder event. Chair Rick Haythornthwaite faced questions on climate policy, pay, and bank strategy. Protesters briefly forced the meeting to pause after interrupting his opening remarks. The disruption came from climate campaigners linked to groups that oppose fossil fuel financing by major banks. The meeting later resumed, but debates continued over NatWest’s changing climate rules and its role in energy funding. Investors, staff unions, and campaigners all raised concerns about the bank’s direction and long-term environmental commitments. The event showed growing pressure on banks to balance profit with climate responsibility. Activists stood up during the event and sang protest songs. They wore black shirts with messages against oil and weapons financing. Their actions forced a temporary suspension of the meeting for about thirty minutes. The group is linked to a wider climate protest movement that targets financial institutions supporting fossil fuel projects. Their message focused on stopping bank funding for oil and gas expansion. Security staff managed the situation while shareholders waited for the session to restart. After resumption, climate issues remained the main topic of discussion. NatWest has recently changed parts of its climate policy. The bank removed earlier rules that restricted lending to oil and gas companies without strong transition plans. These changes sparked concern among environmental groups and some investors. The bank says it still supports climate goals and plans to reduce emissions over time. It also says it will continue financing energy transition projects. However, critics argue the changes weaken previous commitments. They say banks must do more to stop funding fossil fuel expansion if climate targets are to be met globally. Chair Rick Haythornthwaite defended the bank’s position during the meeting. He said the bank is trying to balance customer needs with climate responsibility. He added that the financial sector must deal with complex energy transition challenges. He confirmed that NatWest still aims to cut its climate impact by half compared with 2019 levels. The bank also targets net zero emissions from its financing by 2050. He said these long-term goals have not changed. He described the policy adjustments as small changes rather than a full shift in direction. Investor groups expressed disagreement with the bank’s updated approach. Some shareholders voted against the re-election of the chair due to climate concerns. A representative group said weaker rules could increase financial risks linked to climate change. They warned about potential long-term losses from extreme weather events. However, the chair still received strong support with 92 percent approval from shareholders. Even so, the lower vote compared to previous years showed rising concern among investors about the bank’s climate strategy and risk management approach. Union representatives also raised concerns about pay and staff conditions. They said workers face financial pressure while executive pay continues to rise. They pointed to large dividend payments and high bonuses for senior leaders. NatWest’s chief executive received a multi-million-pound package this year, one of the highest in recent years for the bank. The chair said he hopes to reach a fair agreement with staff soon. He added that the bank must balance fair pay with long-term business stability and performance. NatWest continues to expand its green finance plans. The bank reported billions in energy transition funding during the past year. It aims to increase sustainable lending significantly by 2030. Officials say oil and gas lending now represents a very small share of total activity. The bank also says it avoids funding high-carbon projects such as coal expansion. Despite criticism, NatWest insists it is moving toward a lower-carbon portfolio. It says supporting energy transition remains part of its long-term business model. The case reflects wider debates in global banking over climate responsibility. Banks face pressure from governments, investors, and activist groups at the same time. They must manage financial risk while also responding to environmental goals. Some experts say climate-related shareholder activism will continue to grow. They expect more disputes over fossil fuel lending in the coming years. NatWest says it will keep reviewing its strategy as global conditions and regulations change.