Flights Disrupted at Frankfurt and Oslo Airports Amid Climate Protests

By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News

---

Image Source : Stephen Frink

Climate Activists Disrupt Flights at Frankfurt and Oslo Airports in Coordinated Protests

Climate activists have targeted Frankfurt and Oslo airports as part of a broader "oil kills" protest movement, marking the second day of coordinated demonstrations across Europe and North America. The activists, calling for a halt to fossil fuel use by 2030, employed various tactics to disrupt airport operations.

At Frankfurt Airport, members of the group Letzte Generation (Last Generation) briefly halted flights on Thursday morning. They cut through a wire fence, entered the premises on bicycles and skateboards, and glued themselves to the runway.

In Oslo, protesters from Folk Mot Fossilmakta and Scientist Rebellion Norway created significant delays by blocking a check in lane with a banner reading: “Fast track to phase out.” Ina Nagler, a climate researcher participating in the Oslo protest, expressed frustration with the slow pace of political action on climate change. “The science is clear: We must drastically reduce the use of fossil fuels during this decade,” she stated.

These protests, which aim to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy, have disrupted major airports at the onset of the busy summer travel season. On Wednesday, similar disruptions occurred across airports from Helsinki to Barcelona. Additional protests are anticipated in the US and Canada later this week.

Authorities have condemned the protests, with German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser criticizing the actions as "stupid, criminal and dangerous." She highlighted the risks to both activists and travelers, calling for stricter penalties. The campaign group Oil Kills reported that 37 out of 91 activists were arrested, with 14 remaining in custody.

In response, Letzte Generation argued that the government's insufficient climate policies are the true threat. The group also pointed to increased government crackdowns on disruptive climate actions, including severe legal repercussions for activists. Recent examples include the five year prison sentence handed to Roger Hallam, co founder of Extinction Rebellion, and aggressive measures by German police against activists.

The protesters are advocating for a legally binding international treaty to phase out the extraction and burning of fossil fuels by 2030 and to assist developing nations in their transition. Leading scientists support a shift away from fossil fuels, though the activists' proposed timeline is more ambitious than those suggested by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency. The World Health Organization has endorsed a fossil fuel nonproliferation treaty due to the significant health impacts of climate change.

Looking ahead, activists have planned further protests at airports for Saturday. Inês Teles from the campaign group Stay Grounded emphasized the urgency of their actions, stating, “Flying is the fastest way to fry the planet, so it’s key to start by cutting pointless and unfair flights like private jets or short haul flights.”