German climate activists stick themselves to the asphalt and stop flights

Eight members of the “Last Generation” – an organization that wants to persuade the German government to sign an international ban on the use of oil, gas and coal by 2030 – used bolt cutters to break through the fences of the airports in Berlin Brandenburg (EDDB), Cologne/Bonn (EDDK), Nuremberg (EDDN) and Stuttgart (EDDS).

When the protesters reached the tarmac at around 5 a.m. local time, they were glued to the ground and held up signs reading “Oil kills” and “Sign the treaty.” Flights in Cologne, Bonn and Nuremberg were temporarily suspended due to police efforts to remove the protesters. The activists did not reach the airports’ main runways.

All eight protesters were arrested by police but later released, according to a post by Last Generation on X.

“Friends, if you are worried about your flights, we are not the ones who will prevent most of them,” the group added.

The Last Generation group, which operates in several countries, is known for its disruptive, headline-grabbing protests, such as throwing mashed potatoes and pea soup at famous paintings in museums.

In recent months, however, the group has turned its attention to airports.

According to the United Nations, the transport sector is responsible for about a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, with aviation accounting for about 12 percent of these emissions. Various sources estimate that aviation’s share of global carbon dioxide emissions is between 2 and 4 percent.

In July, Last Generation used similar tactics to shut down hundreds of flights at Frankfurt Airport (EDDF), the country’s busiest airport, and Cologne Bonn Airport. In May, activists attacked Munich Airport (EDDM), canceling 60 flights. The group also spray-painted private jets, causing damage worth tens of thousands of dollars.

The German Airports Association (ADV) condemned the recent demonstrations on Thursday and called on the German government to impose tougher penalties on the protesters.

“The disruptions taking place at several airports (on Thursday) are a concerted act of criminal blackmail,” the association said. “This is not a peaceful protest, and there are no supposedly higher goals at stake. This is a malicious intrusion into air traffic and into the personal rights of every traveler who cannot take their flight as planned.”

The German Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, also criticized the activists and called their actions “dangerous and stupid.”

“We have proposed harsh prison sentences,” Faeser said in a post on X. “And we are demanding that airports make their facilities significantly more secure.”

The proposal Faeser is referring to is a bill that was approved by the country’s cabinet last month but still needs further approval to come into force. The measure would impose prison sentences of two to five years for people who break airport perimeters, an offense that is currently punishable only by a fine.

“You repeat yourself, once again: your political failure is dangerous and is driving us ever deeper into catastrophe!” replied Last Generation Faeser.

Another post said: “This cannot continue. While storms and disasters are increasing worldwide and the climate catastrophe is also clearly felt here in Germany, it is unacceptable that our government continues to invest in fossil industries and energies.”

The aviation industry as a whole has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with regulators and private companies supporting plans from organizations such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

However, not all stakeholders agree on how to achieve this goal, and some experts believe the industry is running out of time to change course. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), being developed by several companies, are expected to play a big role in decarbonization, but airlines have concerns about costs and production. Alternative fuels such as hydrogen face similar hurdles to scaling.