- Climate activists at airports <unk> Cologne/Bonn closes
The climate initiative "Last Generation" has launched protest actions at several German airports, temporarily disrupting flight operations. According to the organization's statements, two activists in orange safety vests gained access to the airports in Berlin-Brandenburg, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, and Cologne-Bonn. dpa photographers on site confirmed the incidents.
At Cologne/Bonn Airport, flight operations had to be suspended in the morning due to a police operation following the protest action, as announced by a spokesperson for the airport. In Nuremberg, flight operations were also temporarily suspended, according to a police spokesperson.
The organization stated that the activists peacefully expressed their resistance by displaying banners with the inscriptions "Oil kills" and "Sign the treaty". "The runways were not entered."
"Last Generation" demands radical climate protection, including the complete renunciation of coal, oil, and gas. They demand the conclusion of an international treaty to this effect. Since the beginning of 2022, the group has organized street blockades where participants stuck themselves to the ground. However, they have since announced that they will change their strategy and no longer use this method in the future. The climate activists have also carried out several disruptive actions at airports in the past, including at Germany's largest airport in Frankfurt at the end of July.
Harder laws to deter
The German government wants to deter radical climate activists and other disruptors from dangerous actions at airports by tightening the Air Security Act. The core of the planned reform, which still needs to be decided by the Bundestag, is the creation of a new provision that makes the "intentional, unauthorized intrusion" onto the apron, as well as the runways, punishable - provided that this endangers the safety of civil aviation.
The European Union, expressing concern over the escalating airport protests, has urged the German government to handle these climate activists with caution to prevent a wider impact on aviation safety. In light of these events, the European Union is evaluating its own regulations to ensure adequate measures are in place to safeguard aviation security across its member states.
