Climate Activists Disrupt European Airports, Gluing Themselves to Tarmac in Fossil Fuel Protest

Climate activists operating under the banner “Oil Kills” have launched a series of disruptive protests across Europe, targeting major airports and grounding flights as travelers prepare for summer getaways. The coordinated actions, which have spanned from Oslo to Barcelona, are part of a larger movement demanding an urgent phase-out of fossil fuels by 2030 from affluent and high-emission nations.

The protests, which coincided with the announcement of the hottest day on record globally, have resulted in significant travel disruptions. Activists have glued themselves to airport tarmacs, blocked roads, and engaged in various forms of direct action to highlight their cause.

In Germany, members of the climate group Letzte Generation (Last Generation) interrupted flights at Cologne-Bonn Airport early Wednesday morning. After cutting through a chain-link fence, they attached themselves to the tarmac, causing the cancellation of 31 flights and the diversion of six others.

In Austria, activists delayed a flight at Vienna Airport by refusing to take their seats before departure and spilled orange paint in the terminal. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, protests involved blocking access roads to Zürich and Geneva airports.

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The disruption extended to Norway, Finland, and Spain, with further actions planned. In the UK, ten activists from the group Just Stop Oil were arrested on suspicion of plotting similar disruptions at Heathrow Airport and remain in custody.

Rita Straub, a 74-year-old retired software analyst from Switzerland, spoke about her motivation for participating in the protests. “I am committing civil disobedience to shake things up and exert pressure,” she said. “I am ashamed of the state of the world I am leaving to my great-nieces and nephews. I cannot stand by silently while fossil fuels continue to kill thousands and governments continue to expand their use.”

Activists argue that rich countries, which have historically contributed the most to global emissions, have the greatest responsibility and capacity to transition away from fossil fuels. “At airports it becomes clear: what used to be normal, we can no longer afford today,” said Lili Gomez, a supporter of Letzte Generation.

Authorities in the UK and Germany have responded with increased measures to address airport protests, advocating for stricter penalties for those involved. The Dutch branch of Extinction Rebellion, which joined the protests on Wednesday, has announced plans for additional actions on Saturday at airports across at least seven countries.