Climate activists from the group ‘Letzte Generation’ (Last Generation) staged simultaneous protests at multiple German airports on August 15, 2024, causing significant disruptions to air traffic. The coordinated action targeted Berlin-Brandenburg, Stuttgart, Nürnberg, and Köln-Bonn airports, with activists entering airport grounds around 5:00 AM local time.Wearing orange vests, the protesters displayed banners with slogans such as ‘Oil kills’ and ‘Sign the treaty’, demanding a global agreement to phase out fossil fuels by 2030. According to the group, eight activists, two at each location, entered airport premises and in some cases glued themselves to the asphalt, though they claim not to have accessed the actual runways.The protests led to temporary suspensions of flight operations at several airports. Köln-Bonn and Nürnberg airports reported halting air traffic, with Nürnberg’s operations suspended for about an hour and a half. At Berlin-Brandenburg airport, two activists were arrested and are being investigated for vandalism, trespassing, and violating air security laws.This action is part of an ongoing campaign by ‘Letzte Generation’, which has previously targeted other German airports, including Frankfurt in July. The repeated disruptions have prompted discussions about enhancing airport security measures. Earlier this month, the German cabinet approved a law imposing harsher penalties, including up to two years in prison, for intentionally entering restricted airport areas.The protests have reignited debates about balancing climate activism with transportation infrastructure security. While the activists emphasize their peaceful intentions, authorities are grappling with the challenge of preventing such disruptions without impinging on the right to protest.
Key points
- Climate activists from ‘Letzte Generation’ staged simultaneous protests at four major German airports on August 15, 2024.
- The protests led to temporary flight suspensions at several airports, including Köln-Bonn and Nürnberg.
- Activists demand a global agreement to phase out fossil fuels by 2030.
- The German government is considering stricter laws and penalties to prevent future airport disruptions.
Contradictions👾While some sources report that activists entered runways, the ‘Letzte Generation’ group claims they did not enter the actual takeoff and landing runways.
