Climate activist Greta Thunberg participated in a protest in southern England against the use of private jets and the expansion of an airport. The march, which included hundreds of local residents and activists, took place at Farnborough Airport, primarily catering to private aircraft. Protesters carried banners and placards with messages like “Ban Private Jets,” while some played drums and lit pink smoke flares.
Farnborough Airport, located in Hampshire County approximately 40 miles southwest of London, applied last year to increase the maximum number of flights from 50,000 to 70,000 per year. Climate change advocacy groups, including Extinction Rebellion, the organizer of Saturday’s protest, argue that private jets are significantly more polluting than commercial passenger airlines. According to Extinction Rebellion, flights to and from Farnborough Airport in 2022 had an average of only 2½ passengers per flight.
In a video posted on social media by Extinction Rebellion, Thunberg emphasized the incompatibility of private jets with the necessity to safeguard present and future living conditions on our planet. She stated, “We’re not going to let this continue. We’re not going to let the rich few who are responsible for the majority of aviation emissions get away with sacrificing people and the planet.”
Farnborough Airport defended its role as an important hub for business and corporate travel while acknowledging the need to reduce its environmental impact. In a statement, the airport highlighted that its environmental footprint is considerably smaller compared to traditional commercial airports, despite being one of the largest employment sites in the region.
Thunberg, a 21-year-old Swedish environmental campaigner who sparked 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 significant oil and gas industry conference. Thunberg, along with other activists, was charged with attempting to obstruct access to the Energy Intelligence Forum, to which she pleaded not guilty.
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