AMSTERDAM, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Hundreds of environmental activists in white overalls stormed an area with private jets at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport and stopped planes from taking off for hours by sitting in front of their wheels on Saturday.
Military police moved in and dozens of protesters were seen being taken away in buses. More than 100 activists were arrested, national broadcaster NOS reported.
The protest was part of a day of demonstrations in and around the air hub organized by Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion in preparation for the COP27 climate talks in Egypt.
No delays were reported on commercial flights.
“We want fewer flights, more trains and a ban on short-haul flights and unnecessary private jets,” said Greenpeace Netherlands campaign leader Dewi Zloch.
[1/5] Climate activists protest against aviation pollution at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in Schiphol, the Netherlands, November 5, 2022. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw
The environmental group says Schiphol is the biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the Netherlands, at 12 billion kilos annually.
Hundreds of other protesters in and around the airport’s main concourse held signs reading “Restrict Aviation” and “More Trains”.
In response to the protest, Schiphol said it aims to become an emissions-free airport by 2030 and supports targets for the aviation industry to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Military police in charge of airport security said in a statement that they had “made several arrests of people who were on airport property without permission.”
The Dutch government in June announced plans to cap annual passengers at the airport at 440,000, about 11 percent below 2019 levels, citing air pollution and climate concerns.
Transport Minister Mark Harbers told parliament last month that his office could not control the growth of private jet traffic, and the government is considering whether to include the issue in its climate policy.
Reporting by Toby Sterling Editing by Toby Chopra, Helen Popper and Andrew Heavens
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