Climate activists in Germany made headlines over the weekend when they breached the grounds of Munich airport, causing chaos and flight cancelations. The group, known as Last Generation, has carried out similar protests in the past. This time, six activists glued themselves to a runway, temporarily shutting down the airport and resulting in around 60 flight cancelations during a busy holiday weekend.
The group later took to social media to claim responsibility for the action, posting pictures of themselves on what appeared to be a runway or tarmac with protest signs. They criticized the government for subsidizing airlines at the expense of rail, displaying signs that read, “Problem is the government, not our holiday.”
Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser, responded to the incident by stating that security measures at the airport would be reviewed. She also condemned the activists’ actions, saying they endangered air traffic and harmed climate protection efforts.
Transport minister Volker Wissing echoed Faeser’s sentiments and called for new laws that would classify such actions as criminal offenses punishable by up to two years in prison. Currently, these actions are classified as minor offenses.
The disruption caused significant inconvenience for travelers. The airport was fully closed for nearly two hours, resulting in 11 diverted flights and approximately 60 cancellations. Delays were still expected even after operations resumed.
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between climate activists and the government’s approach to environmental issues. While some may view these protests as disruptive and dangerous, others argue that they are necessary to draw attention to the urgent need for action on climate change. As governments and activists continue to clash on these issues, it remains to be seen how such conflicts will be resolved in the future.
