Environmental activists caused disruptions outside Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport for several days last week in protest of Canadian fossil fuel policy. The latest action took place on Friday around 12:30 p.m. when three people with activist group Last Generation Canada glued their hands to a road that connects the airport’s departure and arrival ramps, temporarily blocking vehicle access to the terminal.
Shortly before 2 p.m., the group issued a news release saying it is demanding that Ottawa “sign a legally binding treaty to stop extracting and burning oil, gas and coal by 2030.” And pointing to the wildfire that devastated Jasper, Alta., earlier in the week, the group called on the government to create what it calls a “permanent national firefighting agency that employs 50,000 full-time firefighters and a citizens’ assembly … to tackle the climate and ecological crisis.”
Airport authorities said on the X platform that the protest delayed passengers from accessing the terminal. Police spokesperson Véronique Dubuc said the protest lasted two hours and that three people — two men and one woman — were arrested for mischief.
The airport authority said Friday that it would take legal action against the protest group.
Later in the day, Forest said the airport authority obtained a provisional injunction to “prevent any obstruction of operations/demonstrations or other such activities” by Last Generation.
On Thursday, protesters with the same group spay-painted exterior windows at the airport, resulting in police arresting two people for mischief. On Wednesday, police made three arrests after protesters with signs saying “oil kills” glued their hands on the ramp leading to the departures area.
Europe
Meanwhile environmental groups say they are planning to target airports around Europe this summer to remind people about the link between fossil fuels, such as those used by airliners, and climate change.
The threat followed a tumultuous week in aviation across the continent, which included a total of 270 flights being cancelled at Germany’s busiest airport Thursday after environmental activists launched a coordinated effort to disrupt air travel in multiple locations at the height of the summer vacation season to highlight the threat posed by climate change.
Frankfurt Airport said flights were halted for safety reasons after climate activists breached security fences in the early morning. Its runways were back in operation by 7:50 a.m. local time.
By Thursday evening, airport operator Fraport said 270 flights had been cancelled out of 1,400 scheduled for the day.
Police said seven people damaged the perimeter fence and entered the airport premises at 5 a.m., then attached themselves to the tarmac in various places. An eighth person attached themself to the fence. All were detained.
Climate data showed that June 22 was the hottest day ever recorded as human-caused climate change continues to drive unprecedented heat and growing weather extremes. Global investments in planet-warming oil and gas are expected to increase by 7% this year, according to the International Energy Agency, despite global promises to slash fossil fuel use.
Flying is considered one of the most carbon-intensive activities, but the aviation industry is expected to grow steadily over the coming decades despite efforts to contain the climate crisis.
It was the second time in as many days that a protest by the Last Generation group caused disruption at a German airport.
On Wednesday, five protesters glued themselves to a taxiway at Cologne-Bonn Airport, forcing a roughly three-hour halt to flights. That protest resulted in 31 flights being cancelled.
Climate activists staged or attempted similar actions in Finland, Norway, Switzerland and Spain on Wednesday.
Police in London said that they prevented a planned protest at Heathrow Airport. Seven members of the group known as Just Stop Oil were arrested at Heathrow and three others were taken into custody at other locations as part of an “intelligence-led” operation, the Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement.
Last week, the German Cabinet approved legislation that would impose tougher penalties on people who break through airport perimeters.
The bill, which still requires approval by lawmakers, foresees punishment ranging up to a two-year prison sentence for people who intentionally intrude on airside areas of airports such as taxiways or runways, endanger civil aviation, or enable someone else to. Currently such intrusions only draw a fine.