News / Extinction Rebellion
Extinction Rebellion campaigners protest proposed expansion of Bristol Airport
Environmental activists descended on Weston-super-Mare for the launch of an inquiry into Bristol Airport expansion.
Campaigners from Extinction Rebellion and other groups are urging the panel to deny the airport the right to expand passenger numbers from 10 to 12 million.
They staged a number of high profile actions – from elaborate performances of ‘the greenwash busters’ to an occupation of the town hall roof.
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Bristol Airport’s lawyer has claimed the benefits of increased connectivity, prosperity and quality of life the expansion would bring will outweigh the “relatively modest” environmental impacts.
Extinction Rebellion campaigners say an expanded Bristol Airport would allow for an extra 23,800 flights a year, including night flights between 1am and 6am, resulting in an additional one million tonnes of carbon emissions, and 10,000 more car movements per day.
Esther from Bristol Youth Strike for Climate (BYS4C) and Extinction Rebellion Youth Bristol (XRYB) spoke in front of Weston-super-Mare Town Hall.
“As young people, we are more susceptible to the detrimental health effects of air pollution and many of us have spent our whole lives breathing Bristol’s criminally polluted air – Bristol airport’s proposed expansion would simply put more young people at risk,” said Esther.
“Accepting this appeal would mean leaving it to younger generations to come up with climate solutions, rather than tackling it like the emergency it is.”
Activist scales Weston-super-Mare Town Hall to protest the proposed airport expansion. Photo credit: Simon Holliday / simonholliday.com
Some activists also argue that pushing ahead with this would be ‘undemocratic’ given that 84 per cent of North Somerset residents who commented on the Bristol airport expansion plan objected to the expansion. They also argue it will undermine the climate emergency that they declared in early 2019.
Bristol Airport’s lawyer Michael Humphries QC told the inquiry: “To artificially restrict the ability of individuals to fly by deliberately constraining capacity as some have suggested would have profound implications in a free society.”
He added: “The concerns of North Somerset Council and other parties [about carbon emissions] are unfounded. Indeed, much of the evidence simply seeks to mount an attack on government policy or speculate as to what future policy may be.”
Extinction Rebellion activists demonstrate on the streets in Weston – photo by Bobby Edwards
For more information on the ongoing demonstrations checkout https://xrbristol.org.uk/.
Main photo by Bobby Edwards
Read more: Major inquiry into expansion of Bristol Airport opens
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