LONDON- Climate activist Greta Thunberg participated in a demonstration in southern England on Saturday, protesting against the use of private jets and the expansion of an airport.
Hundreds of local residents and activists, holding banners and placards advocating for the ban on private jets, marched to Farnborough Airport (FAB), primarily catering to private aircraft. Some participants played drums, while others ignited pink smoke flares.
Greta Thunberg Protest Against Airport Expansion
Situated in Hampshire County, approximately 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of London, the airport applied last year to increase its maximum number of flights from 50,000 to 70,000 annually.
Groups dedicated to combating climate change, including the event’s organizer, Extinction Rebellion, argue that private jets have a significantly higher environmental impact compared to commercial passenger airliners.
According to the group, flights to and from Farnborough Airport had an average of 2½ passengers per flight in 2022.
“It is evident that private jets are incompatible with ensuring present and future living conditions on this planet,” stated Thunberg in a video shared by Extinction Rebellion on social media.
“We’re not going to let this continue. We’re not going to let the rich few, who bear the majority of aviation emissions responsibility, escape accountability for jeopardizing people and the planet,” she added.
Airport Remarks
Farnborough Airport asserted its significance as a hub for business and corporate travel while acknowledging the need to minimize its environmental impact.
In a statement, the airport highlighted that its environmental footprint is significantly smaller than that of a traditional commercial airport, emphasizing its role as one of the largest employment sites in the region.
Thunberg, aged 21, a Swedish environmental advocate who catalyzed a global youth movement against climate change, is scheduled to appear in a London court next week to face a public order offense charge. She was arrested in October during a protest against a major oil and gas industry conference.
Thunberg is one of the activists charged for attempting to obstruct access to the Energy Intelligence Forum. She has denied the charge.
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