400,000 euros or jail time – climate protests have never been so expensive

When activism becomes a boomerang

This action by the climate group "Last Generation" has had serious financial repercussions: after activists blocked Hamburg Airport on July 13, 2023, bringing all air traffic there to a standstill, the Hamburg Regional Court responded with a ruling that could send a strong signal: According to the Bild newspaper, the climate activists will have to pay over €400,000 in damages – or serve up to two years in prison as an alternative (Ref.: 325 O 168/24).

At the time, the action was directed against air traffic – but the consequences affected not only the airlines, but above all thousands of travelers. The Lufthansa Group was particularly affected and took legal action. A total of 57 flights had to be canceled, leaving 8,500 passengers stranded. Now the bill has come due.

The cost of protest – in detail

The ruling by the Hamburg Regional Court leaves no room for doubt: anyone who causes massive disruption will pay for it—and pay dearly. The climate group "Letzte Generation" (Last Generation) will have to dig deep into its pockets after blocking Hamburg Airport. The damages of over €400,000 are made up of several individual items: Compensation paid to affected passengers, both directly at the airport counter and via customer service, already accounted for a large part of the costs. Added to this were additional expenses for extra kerosene consumption and delayed operations. However, the lost profits for the Lufthansa Group, which account for almost half of the total damages, are likely to be particularly painful.

And that's not the end of the financial nightmare for the activists. In addition to these claims for damages, they also have to pay the entire costs of the proceedings. With a claim value of €700,000, this represents a further, not inconsiderable burden. What began as a political protest has now developed into a court case that could potentially threaten the livelihoods of those involved.

Now other airports are also wavering

The Hamburg ruling was the first of its kind—but probably not the last. In Düsseldorf, where there was a similar campaign by climate activists, legal action is already being considered. Condor and Tuifly are also currently looking into legal steps.

Until now, blockade actions have usually resulted in only mild penalties: a few months' probation or small fines. That is now changing fundamentally. For the first time, financial damages are being claimed – and enforced.

How should this be classified?

Whether you approve of the actions of "Last Generation" or not, one thing is certain: the constitutional state has responded. And it has done so clearly. Anyone who deliberately interferes with economic processes must also live with the consequences—and those consequences can now be ruinous. Will this deter people? Perhaps. Will it depoliticize the debate on climate protection? Definitely not.

But: When protest leads to foreclosure, activism becomes a financial risk. Anyone who sticks to runways in the future should not only be familiar with superglue—but also with default summonses.

Those who confuse protest with chaos should not be surprised when the bailiff comes knocking. Even climate change should not be a free pass for anarchy. Those who "invest" €400,000 to make a statement may soon have only one thing left: debt.

Source: bild.de