Military police moved in and were seen taking dozens of protesters away in buses. More than 100 activists were arrested, Dutch 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 as part of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC climate talks (COP27) in Egypt. No commercial flight delays were reported. “We want fewer flights, more trains and a ban on unnecessary short-haul flights and private jets,” said Greenpeace Netherlands campaign chief Dewi Zloch.
Activists say the airport is the country’s biggest source of emissions
Police arrested a climate activist during Saturday’s demonstration, which was organized by environmental groups Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion. (Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters) The environmental group says Schiphol is the biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the Netherlands, emitting 12 billion kilograms a year. Hundreds of other protesters in and around the airport’s main concourse carried signs reading “Restrict Aviation” and “More Trains”. Responding to the protest, Schiphol said it aims to become an emission-free airport by 2030 and supports targets for the aviation industry to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Military police in charge of airport security said in a statement that they “made a number of arrests of people who were on airport property without permission.” The Dutch government announced plans in June 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 Harbors told parliament last month his office could not control the growing private jet traffic and the government is considering whether to include the issue in its climate policy.
