Climate activists demonstrate against air pollution at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, in Schiphol, Netherlands November 5, 2022.
Piroschka Van De Wouw | Reuters
Hundreds of climate activists flooded a private jet area of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Saturday as part of a day of protests in and around the airport.
Activists have prevented some planes from taking off by sitting in front of their wheels. Commercial flights were not delayed in the early afternoon. According to these organizations, environmental groups Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion have organized protests to protest against aviation pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as local noise pollution. .
Protesters also demonstrated in the airport’s main lobby and carried signs with “Restrict Aviation” and “More trains,” as reported by Reuters. Military police said in a statement that they had arrested a number of “people who were in the airport without permission.”
“We’ve been campaigning to stop Schiphol’s large-scale pollution for years and with good reason. it’s the most polluting way of flying,” said Dewi Zloch of Greenpeace Netherlands. said in a statement.
Greenpeace says Schiphol is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the Netherlands, reportedly emitting more than 12 billion kilograms a year. The airport has responded to the climate protests by saying it will aim to become zero emissions by 2030 and that it supports targets for the entire industry to achieve net emissions. zero by 2050.
Schiphol CEO Ruud Sondag said in a statement that he has been committed for a sustainable Netherlands for 25 years and that he shares the activists’ sense of urgency.
“As an airline industry, we have to do everything we can to be quieter and cleaner. That’s my point. The mission is huge, but achievable,” he said according to translation. of the statement. Sondag said he plans to speak with Greenpeace, employees, unions and others in the coming days.
“And for Saturday,” he said, “welcome, but keep it organized.”
The Dutch government is said to be considering whether to include private jet vehicles in its climate policy. In June, the government announced a 440,000-person limit on annual passengers at the airport, citing air pollution and climate concerns.
