Climate activists from the group ‘Letzte Generation’ (Last Generation) disrupted operations at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany on August 1, 2024, by gluing themselves to the runway. The protest, which began around midnight, led to a three-hour suspension of cargo flights, significantly affecting the airport’s freight operations. Leipzig/Halle Airport, Europe’s fourth-largest cargo hub handling about 1.4 million tons of cargo annually, saw its southern area particularly impacted.The activists demand that the German government pursue a global agreement to phase out fossil fuels by 2030. ‘We are calling for a phase-out of fossil fuels by 2030,’ stated a spokesperson for Last Generation. The group chose to target freight traffic, noting that ‘The freight traffic is particularly affected by today’s blockade, and the night flight ban has been lifted’.This incident is part of a series of similar protests at German airports, including recent disruptions at Frankfurt and Cologne/Bonn airports. The action has reignited debates about airport security measures, with German politicians calling for better protection of the country’s airports. In response, the German Cabinet recently approved a law that would impose harsher penalties, including prison sentences of up to two years, on individuals who illegally enter airport perimeters.Notably, this protest coincided with Earth Overshoot Day, which fell on August 1st this year. This symbolic date, calculated by the Global Footprint Network, marks the point when humanity has consumed all the natural resources that the Earth can sustainably produce in a year. The timing of the protest underscores the activists’ message about the urgent need for action on climate change and resource consumption.The Leipzig/Halle Airport protest highlights the ongoing tension between climate activism and transportation infrastructure, as well as the broader debate about sustainable resource use and climate policy. As similar actions are planned across Europe and North America, the incident is likely to fuel further discussions about the balance between security, economic interests, and environmental concerns.
Key points
- Climate activists disrupted Leipzig/Halle Airport operations for three hours, targeting cargo flights.
- The protest coincided with Earth Overshoot Day, highlighting concerns about resource consumption.
- German politicians are calling for increased airport security measures in response to recent protests.
- The activists demand a global agreement to phase out fossil fuels by 2030.
Contradictions👾While most sources report five activists glued themselves to the runway, one source mentions that seven activists were involved, with two being prevented from gluing themselves.
