In a coordinated action, climate activists from the “Last Generation” partially paralyzed several German airports through protests on August 15, 2024. Activists wearing orange safety vests entered the airports in Berlin-Brandenburg, Stuttgart, Nuremberg and Cologne/Bonn, causing significant disruption to flight operations.
The actions not only raise questions about the effectiveness and legitimacy of such protests, but have also sparked a renewed debate about airport security and the adequacy of the law.
On the morning of August 15, activists from the "Last Generation" managed to enter the grounds of several major airports in Germany. While at some locations - such as Stuttgart - they only blocked access roads, in Cologne/Bonn and Nuremberg they entered directly into security-relevant areas, which led to flight operations having to be temporarily suspended. At Stuttgart and Cologne/Bonn airports, activists stuck themselves to the road or near the runways, which forced police forces to first detach them from the ground before operations could resume. No major incidents occurred, and the police took the activists into custody.
The protesters of the "Last Generation" wanted to use their action to draw attention to the urgency of radical climate protection measures. According to a statement from the group, banners with slogans such as "Oil kills" and "Sign the treaty" were displayed during the actions. These slogans refer to the activists' demands for an immediate phase-out of fossil fuels and the signing of an international treaty that would anchor these demands globally.
Reactions to the protests
The actions of the "Last Generation" were met with sharp criticism, both from politicians and from the aviation industry. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) strongly condemned the protests and described them as "dangerous and stupid". On the platform X (formerly Twitter), she explained that such "criminal actions" not only endanger the lives of the activists, but also the lives of innocent bystanders. Faeser stressed that the federal government had already taken steps to tighten the Aviation Security Act in order to prevent such incidents in the future.
The draft amendment to the law provides that "intentional, unauthorized intrusion" onto taxiways and runways will in future be punishable if it compromises the safety of civil aviation. This reform is a direct response to the repeated disruptive actions of the "Last Generation", which has attracted attention since the beginning of 2022 by blocking roads and sticking people. The new legislation is intended to provide for severe prison sentences for such actions and oblige airports to further tighten their security measures.
The view of airports and the aviation industry
However, the airport association ADV (Association of German Airports) contradicted the criticism of the airports' security precautions. ADV General Manager Ralph Beisel emphasized that the airports' security concepts had worked very well and that the reporting and alarm chains had been triggered reliably. Despite this positive assessment, Beisel demanded that the planned tightening of the Aviation Security Act be implemented as quickly as possible in order to create a clear legal basis for the prosecution of such incidents.
Beisel also made it clear that the actions of the "Last Generation" should not be viewed as legitimate protests, but as criminal offenses that must be consistently prosecuted by the justice system. He stressed that airports are continually reviewing and adapting their security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Social and political implications
The protest actions of the "Last Generation" not only raise questions about security at German airports, but also about the legitimacy and effectiveness of radical forms of protest in the fight against climate change. While the activists emphasize that their actions are necessary to draw attention to the urgency of climate protection, critics see these measures as an irresponsible threat to public safety.
The repeated actions of the "Last Generation" have become increasingly polarizing in recent years. On the one hand, there are voices who see the group's radicalism as an expression of desperation in the face of the advancing climate crisis. On the other hand, pressure is growing on politicians to take tougher laws against such disruptive actions. This polarization is also reflected in the public debate, which is increasingly divided between understanding the activists' concerns and rejection of their methods.
The protests of the "Last Generation" at several German airports have once again exposed the tensions between self-proclaimed climate protectors and state institutions. While the activists see their actions as a necessary wake-up call, political decision-makers and representatives of the aviation industry view them as dangerous and criminal acts. The planned tightening of the Aviation Security Act is a clear signal from the federal government that the state is willing to take tougher action against such protests. It remains to be seen whether these measures will be sufficient to prevent future disruptions. What is certain, however, is that the debate about the right balance between climate protection and public safety will continue.
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