BTN News: A group of climate activists from Last Generation held a protest at Leipzig/Halle airport in eastern Germany. This protest happened late at night and caused cargo flights to stop for about three hours. This event is part of a series of protests by the group. They have targeted other major airports in Germany, including Cologne-Bonn and Frankfurt, which is the busiest airport in the country. These protests have also caused delays and problems for passenger flights.
The protest at Leipzig/Halle started just after midnight. Five activists managed to attach themselves to the ground inside the airport’s perimeter. Authorities stopped two more activists from joining them. Because of this, cargo flights had to be suspended from around 12:30 AM to about 3:30 AM. Uwe Schuhart, the airport’s spokesperson, said this caused delays in cargo operations. However, passenger flights were not significantly affected because the airport does not have scheduled passenger services during the night. The first passenger flight of the day took off at 5:41 AM, only 15 minutes late.
Leipzig/Halle airport is an important hub for cargo transport. This means the protest affected the movement of goods. After the activists broke through the airport’s fence, they were removed by authorities around 5:00 AM. Last Generation said their protest did not take place on the runways, which helped avoid more serious disruptions.
Last Generation is protesting to demand that the German government take stronger action against climate change. They want a global agreement to stop using oil, gas, and coal by 2030. This demand is in line with the larger goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow down global warming.
In response to these protests, the German government has proposed a new rule to impose stricter penalties on people who enter airport areas illegally. This rule still needs approval from lawmakers. If passed, it would mean up to two years in prison for those who breach airport security zones like access roads or runways. Right now, these actions usually result in fines.
The new security measure shows that the government understands the risks these protests pose to airport operations and public safety. As climate activism grows, finding a balance between allowing protests and maintaining airport security is a challenge for authorities.
The protest at Leipzig/Halle airport is a clear sign of the growing urgency of climate activism in Germany and around the world. As activists push harder for immediate action on climate change, such disruptions might become more common. This situation is prompting discussions on how best to respond to these protests while also addressing climate goals.
The recent protest at Leipzig/Halle airport by Last Generation shows the tension between climate activists and government authorities. Activists are increasing their efforts to demand quick and strong action on climate change. This may lead to more security measures and new discussions about how to achieve global climate goals. The challenge is to ensure public safety while dealing with the urgent issue of climate change.
