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Local residents and Extinction Rebellion complain about the noise nuisance from the airport.

Eindhoven Airport is the second largest airport in the Netherlands and plays an important role in the region's economy. But the airport also causes noise nuisance for local residents, which leads to tensions between the airport and the local residents. In a few weeks, Extinction Rebellion will take action at Eindhoven Airport and demand a green and sustainable policy for Eindhoven Airport.

In 2020, a new airport decree for Eindhoven Airport will be published, limiting the growth in the number of flights and passengers. This decision was partly due to the noise nuisance caused by the airport to local residents. Nevertheless, noise nuisance remains an important theme in the relationship between the airport and the surrounding area.

Climate action group Extinction Rebellion will be campaigning at Eindhoven Airport on Saturday 25 March. At stake is the air pollution, noise nuisance and health damage that Eindhoven Airport causes. Just like at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the nature permit is not in order here, according to the action group.

According to Extinction Rebellion, Eindhoven Airport is not in order. In addition to all the air pollution, noise nuisance and health damage that Eindhoven Airport causes, they also do not have their nature permit for civil aviation in order. That is why they are taking action and have five requirements for Eindhoven Airport. Stop polluting and scrap unnecessary flights, tell the honest story, set legal climate rules and give flying a fair price. 

With the success of the A12 blockade fresh in our memories, they are already hard at work with this action and are calling on everyone to participate in the action on March 25. Flying is no longer possible for Extinction Rebellion Eindhoven and more than 500 people have already signed up reported to take action at Eindhoven Airport for a fair and green future. 

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Judith de Roy - spokesperson Eindhoven Airport NV

The continued reduction of noise nuisance is in line with the advice of former State Secretary Pieter van Geel on the further development of Eindhoven Airport until 2030.

Local residents have been complaining about the noise nuisance from the airport for years. This not only concerns the noise of aircraft, but also sounds from, for example, the runways and the loading and unloading of cargo. Airport noise can affect the quality of life in the area and can lead to health problems such as stress, sleep disturbance and hearing damage.

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Earlier, spokeswoman Judith de Roy said: “Sixty percent of the fleet must be renewed by 2030. This concerns the latest generation of aircraft, which cause much less CO2 emissions and noise. That's what we're aiming for." Eindhoven Airport has taken measures in recent years to reduce noise nuisance. For example, quieter aircraft have been deployed and noise barriers have been installed. The airport has also set up a hotline where local residents can submit complaints about noise nuisance. The activities on the ground are also being made more sustainable. 

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Photo: © Pitane Blue - landing Wizz Air aircraft at Eindhoven Airport

Despite this, local residents are still not satisfied. According to them, Eindhoven Airport is not doing enough to reduce noise nuisance and stricter measures should be taken, such as reducing the number of flights and moving the airport to another location. In 2023, the number of flight movements at Eindhoven Airport will be limited to a maximum of 41.500 per year. 

The airport, in turn, has indicated that reducing the number of flights and relocating the airport are not options. This would lead to economic damage for the region and the airport itself. Eindhoven Airport is committed to further technological developments to reduce noise nuisance, such as developing quieter aircraft engines and optimizing flight routes.

It is clear that noise nuisance at Eindhoven Airport is a complex issue in which the interests of the airport and local residents are at odds. It is important that there is a dialogue between the airport and local residents in order to arrive at a solution that is acceptable to both parties. A solution that not only serves the economic interests of the region, but also respects the health and well-being of local residents

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Mark Harders
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Harbers sees no need to align aviation with the Paris climate goals.

According to Extinction Rebellion, we have only a few years left to contain dangerous climate disruption. Flying is a disproportionate contributor to the climate and environmental crisis and is easy to curtail. A sensible and just measure is a drastic and immediate reduction in the number of flight movements. This offers several advantages: less climate and environmental damage, better health for millions of people, more space for housing, nature and less noise nuisance. In short: a better business climate for people in the Netherlands and abroad. According to Extinction Rebellion (XR), an independent Civil Aviation Council must determine what kind of aviation we would need in the Netherlands.

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This was the message from three XR rebels to Minister Mark Harbers and Aviation Director Henri van Faassen of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Attempts to make them understand the need and desirability of rapid action often met with well-known claptraps, such as:We are already doing much, much more than other countries and are on track to meet the Paris and Europe commitments."

In reality, the one and a half degrees goals, as set in the Paris Agreement, are almost unattainable and we are currently heading for a warming of 2 degrees due to weak government climate policy. “Many people in the Netherlands want to fly and we have to listen to that, we are gradually making it more difficult to fly,Harbers said. People want to fly because it is cheap and easy and gradual change, as Harbers refers to, is in stark contrast to the UN's call for drastic change quickly. “In the EU they look at me strangely when I mention shrinkage."

Extinction Rebellion, in turn, gives the minister a strange look because he doesn't understand that we play Russian roulette with almost all life on earth. “I note that we live on two different planets in terms of urgency and speed,the minister concluded. That's exactly the problem: we only have one planet, but we live as if we had two. So the conversation went as expected. Yet they believe and hope that a seed has been planted. Extinction Rebellion indicates that it has tried again and will continue to try. “But it is crystal clear: this government is not going to save us, so we must continue with more non-violent, disruptive actions,” says Extinction Rebellion.

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