Vinci's plan for a new airport mid-Nature Reserve, Portugal
Description:
On January 8th 2019, the portuguese government signed an agreement with VINCI (now full shareholder of ANA – Autoridade Nacional to significantly increase air traffic capacity in the two main Portuguese cities of Lisbon and Porto [1,2]. The deal includes: An expansion of the Portela Airport infrastructure in Lisbon which would increase possible air traffic by about 50%. An expansion of the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (Porto) which would lead to similar increase by about 60% [3]. The building of an entirely new commercial airport in Montijo (southern bank of the Tejo) on top of the currently existing Air Force Base nº 6. This would also include the creation of new highway accesses to the airport and Vasco da Gama bridge (also owned by Vinci). Not only would this lead to an enormous increase in air-traffic related CO2 emissions - the likes of which would make air-traffic the single largest cause of atmospheric pollution in the country – but the selected area is also one of the largest remaining wetland ecosystems in Europe, and a natural wildlife reserve crucial for dozens of bird species to feed in. The impact on local bird populations would be disastrous, to say nothing of the risk it constitutes for passenger safety to have birds flying at low altitudes near jet turbines [5]. As if this decision in itself wasn't bad enough, the conditions under which this deal was signed are in blantant disregard for EU laws pertaining to the need to perform an environmentl impact study prior to the construction of these projects. The preliminary study was completed in late July, and as we expected, it's findings are confusing to say the least: It warns of grave environmental and safety risks, but says the location is viable [4]. The project is now in a period of public consultation until the 19th of September, though participation by the population has been predictably low; We also believe the choice of this period is not an accident either, as August and September are the months in which most of the population is on holidays and is less likely to notice or protest this governmental decision, which is plainly detrimental to public and ecological health and serves the capitalistic interests of those who would truly profit with this deal: the multinational corporation VINCI and certain members within the Portuguese political class [5]. Aterra is born in late April 2019 from a group of activists working with Extinction Rebellion and other climate activist organizations in Portugal that approached Stay Grounded due to the nature of our mutual struggles. We practice creative tactical civil disobedience in an effort to raise awareness about the need to decrease air-traffic, promote alternative forms of travel and shut down all projects and laws that would constitute an increase in airport infrastructure or Air-Traffic increase in General. Since its birth, Aterra has interrupted a speech of Prime-Minister Antonio Costa with paper planes, has interrupted the largest aeronautic gathering in the Iberian Peninsula (Air Summit) to denounce the organizers of greenwashing, and endeavours to organize events, talks, petitions and meetings to coordinate further action agaisnt these expansion plans. By late September - before the elections in October and in solidarity with Extinction Rebellion - Aterra and other partners will be organizing a Rave against the Airport, which intends to be a massive public event near the airbase with music, talks and other tools for political actions, where hopefully thousands of people can participate together to make their voices heard loud and clear: We don't want a new airport, and certainly not in a nature reserve! [8,9, 10,11] |
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Vinci's plan for a new airport mid-Nature Reserve, Portugal |
| Country: | Portugal |
| State or province: | Alcochete |
| Location of conflict: | Montijo |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
Source of Conflict
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Infrastructure and Built Environment |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Ports and airport projects |
| Specific commodities: | Land Tourism services |
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | An expansion of the Portela Airport infrastructure in Lisbon which would increase possible air traffic by about 50%. An expansion of the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (Porto) which would lead to similar increase by about 60% [3]. The building of an entirely new commercial airport in Montijo (southern bank of the Tejo) on top of the currently existing Air Force Base nº 6. This would also include the creation of new highway accesses to the airport and Vasco da Gama bridge (also owned by Vinci). |
| Project area: | 600 hectares |
| Type of population | Semi-urban |
| Affected Population: | 800k in Setubal peninsula, 500k in Lisbon, 300k in Porto |
| Start of the conflict: | 08/01/2019 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Vinci Group (Vinci) from France |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | ATERRA (aterra.org.pt) Extinction Rebellion Stay Grounded associação ambientalista Zero associação ambientalista Quercus |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | LOW (some local organising) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | International ejos Local ejos Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of mobilization: | Artistic and creative actions (eg guerilla theatre, murals) Development of a network/collective action Objections to the EIA Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Referendum other local consultations Street protest/marches Arguments for the rights of mother nature Appeals/recourse to economic valuation of the environment |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Global warming, Noise pollution, Other Environmental impacts |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Other Health impacts Potential: Accidents |
| Other Health impacts | Increased risk of cardiac disease due to noise polution |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Displacement, Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Land dispossession |
Outcome
| Project Status | Proposed (exploration phase) |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Under negotiation |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
Sources & Materials
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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Meta information
| Contributor: | Luis Falcão - Aterra - [email protected] |
| Last update | 14/11/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 4734 |
Images |
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Flamingos in the Area
Along with dozens of other bird species that use the shallow waters of the estuary as feeding grounds, flamingo populations are under immediate threat.
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Semi-urban fishing villages will be greatly affected
While the new airport is being heralded as a bringer of an economic boost, the local communities' way of life will be threatened by unprecedented levels of noise polution. Schools and hospitals would be specially affected, and yet the government seems to prefer to forego construction or expansion of these crucial infrastructures in the area in the name of "mitigating" the damaging effects of the soon to be built airport
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Decommissioning of Military Base
The area is in fact already being utilised as a base for the Portuguese Air-Force, mostly used for search-and rescue operations and other emergency situations. Current air-traffic is near residual, most aircraft stationed there are propeller-engined and have irregular use, and they serve an important function in a country with such a vast Atlantic Coast
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source: Aterra facebook
The flamingos threatened by the montijo airport invaded the streets of Lisbon. 4th Oct 2019
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