More than 300 Greenpeace activists from across Europe protested on Tuesday outside of a building where European Union (EU) finance ministers are meeting to demand more funding to help developing countries tackle climate change.

As finance ministers continue to dish out billions of taxpayers' money for failed banks and carmakers, activists displayed banners in several languages asking EU politicians to "save the climate" and "bailout the planet."

The protesters sealed the exits of the EU Council building in an attempt to block the finance ministers from coming out "without money on the table to tackle climate change."

"Our leaders failed to respond to the warning signs of the financial crisis and we are now all paying the price," said Joris den Blanken, climate and energy policy director of the Greenpeace Europe.

"We can not afford to let them make the same mistake with the climate crisis. Substantial investment must be made now to prevent runaway climate change, if not it will literally cost us the Earth," he added.

Police detained several protesters who tried to get into the building or who chained themselves to the main gate of the building.

The meeting of the EU finance ministers was not affected by the protest.

EU leaders will meet for a summit on March 19-20, when they are expected to reach a final agreement on the EU's position on financing for developing countries in the forthcoming global climate summit in December 2009 in Copenhagen.