The “Last Generation” climate activist group frequently makes headlines with disruptions at airports. These actions have also affected Berlin’s main airport. Now, the activists could face significant fines.
In response to previous disruptions at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), the Federal Police have demanded nearly 6,400 euros from the climate activists for their actions. The protests by the “Last Generation” group took place on November 24 and December 8, 2022, as well as on May 5, 2023. Consequently, the Federal Police issued fee notices to 16 participants, according to a spokesperson from the German Press Agency.
In eleven cases, the notices are now final, meaning the affected individuals can no longer contest them. The authorities are still reviewing appeals in four cases, while one case has progressed to a lawsuit against the appeal decision.
The fees that the climate activists are required to pay vary significantly. The determining factors include the duration of the police operation and the number of officers involved.
Activists to cover police costs for three disruptions
For the operation on December 8, 2022, the Federal Police levied fees totaling 3,050 euros. Six activists, who managed to breach the airport’s restricted area, are responsible for this amount. For the May 2023 incident, where activists entered the premises and sprayed a private jet with paint, the fee is around 2,280 euros for seven individuals.
Currently, the Federal Police are working to prevent further disruptions at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Following protests at the Cologne/Bonn, Frankfurt/Main, and Leipzig airports, security measures have been increased according to police and airport operator reports.
“Last Generation” faces payment challenges
Other authorities also attempt to recoup costs from climate activists following actions such as paint attacks or traffic blockades where activists glue themselves to roads. According to a report from the newspaper “Tagesspiegel,” this process is challenging. Most districts reported having to fund minor road repairs from their own budgets.
In contrast, the state of Berlin is suing climate activists for nearly 142,000 euros following a paint attack on the Brandenburg Gate on September 17, 2023. The timeline for the Berlin Regional Court to address the lawsuit is still uncertain.
The Last Generation (German: Letzte Generation) is a climate change activist group primarily active in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Poland. Formed in 2021, they consider themselves the last generation capable of preventing irreversible climate tipping points. Their direct actions include non-violent road blockades (276 in Germany during 2022) and symbolic acts like vandalizing yachts, paintings, and private jets. While their civil disobedience methods have sparked mixed reactions, they advocate for urgent climate action and demand measures such as a 100 km/h speed limit on autobahns and compensation for climate change impacts.
In early 2023, the group declared the democratic process unfit for addressing the climate crisis and proposed “Society councils” to devise emergency measures. These councils, composed of randomly selected individuals from diverse backgrounds, would guide policy decisions. Recently, the group shifted from road blockades to “disobedient public assemblies” and expressed their intention to contest the 2024 EU Parliament elections in Germany.
