The third runway at Vienna Airport would be Austria’s worst climate-wrecking infrastructure project, turning Vienna into a central airport hub. The plans date back to 1998, and ever since local residents oppose to the expansion, which would effect thousands of people with noise and health problems. The airport legitimizes the expansion by stating that the two runways will soon reach its capacity limits, and that Vienna needs to compete with other airports (like Munich, Bratislava). In 2007, the Flughafen Wien AG – as applicant for the project of a third runway at Vienna International Airport – published their environmental impact statement. It received more than 1000 objections from neighbours and citizens’ initiatives. Still, in early 2012, the provincial government of Lower Austria ruled in favour of the airport’s expansion. Neighbours and citizens’ initiatives appealed to the “Umweltsenat” and later to the Federal Administrative Court. In February 2017, the Austrian Federal Administrative Court came to the conclusion that building a third runway in Vienna would lead to too many greenhouse gas emissions and would destroy too much agricultural land. This was a great victory which also had to do with the long resistance against the airport – on a legal as well as public pressure level. In October 2016, the climate justice group "System Change, not Climate Change!" had organized an action at the airport, at the same time while "Stay Grounded" actions at airports around the world were taking place. But already few months after the landmark decision, end of June 2017, the higher constitutional court ruled that the decision was wrong and unconstitutional. This was the basis for a new decision by the Federal Administrative Court which gave permission to the airport expansion in March 2018. Citizens' initiatives called for a revision again and a final decision is not expected before 2020. Resistance against the project continues. |
Name of conflict: | Vienna Third Runway Airport Expansion, Austria |
Country: | Austria |
State or province: | Lower Austria |
Location of conflict: | Schwechat |
Accuracy of location | MEDIUM (Regional level) |
Type of conflict. 1st level: | Infrastructure and Built Environment |
Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Ports and airport projects |
Specific commodities: | Tourism services |
Project details | |
Project area: | 661 |
Level of Investment for the conflictive project | not known, but estimates range between 1 and several billion USD |
Type of population | Rural |
Affected Population: | 500,000 |
Start of the conflict: | 01/04/1998 |
Company names or state enterprises: | Flughafen Wien AG from Austria - Airport Company |
Relevant government actors: | Österreichische Volkspartei (Conservatives), Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (right-wing), Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (Social Democrats) |
Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | System Change, not Climate Change!, https://systemchange-not-climatechange.at AFLG Antifluglärmgemeinschaft, http://www.fluglaerm.at/news.html BürgerInnen für Transparenz, Kostenwahrheit und Nachhaltigkeit in der Luftfahrt, http://www.neinzurdrittenpiste.at/ BI Liesing gegen Fluglärm und die dritte Piste, http://liesing.fluglaerm.at/ |
Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
Groups mobilizing: | Local ejos Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements |
Forms of mobilization: | Artistic and creative actions (eg guerilla theatre, murals) Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Street protest/marches |
Environmental Impacts | Potential: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Global warming, Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Noise pollution |
Health Impacts | Potential: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Other Health impacts |
Socio-economical Impacts | Potential: Land dispossession |
Project Status | Planned (decision to go ahead eg EIA undertaken, etc) |
Conflict outcome / response: | Court decision (undecided) New legislation |
Proposal and development of alternatives: | Instead of expanding fossil fuel infrastructure like this airport, there is need of a climate just form of mobility. Shifting short and medium haul flights to the railway; changing patterns of travel, work and holidays; elimination of the privileges of the aviation industry and introduction of a kerosene tax |
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
Briefly explain: | Until now, the planned expansion has not been hindered. |
Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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Contributor: | Manuel Grebenjak, System Change not Climate Change!, [email protected] // Magdalena Heuwieser, Stay Grounded, [email protected] |
Last update | 18/08/2019 |
Conflict ID: | 3509 |
Images |
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Red Line Action 2017 by
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Dimensions of the planned third runway
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Demonstration at Vienna airport in 2016
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Red Line Action 2017 by
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Red Line Action 2017 by
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