Please zoom in or out and select the base layer according to your preference to make the map ready for printing, then press the Print button above.

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 locationHIGH (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 populationSemi-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

IntensityLOW (some local organising)
Reaction stagePREVENTIVE 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 ImpactsVisible: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Global warming, Noise pollution, Other Environmental impacts
Health ImpactsVisible: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Other Health impacts
Potential: Accidents
Other Health impactsIncreased risk of cardiac disease due to noise polution
Socio-economical ImpactsVisible: Displacement, Loss of landscape/sense of place
Potential: Land dispossession

Outcome

Project StatusProposed (exploration phase)
Conflict outcome / response:Under negotiation
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:No

Sources & Materials

[1] La expansión del aeropuerto de Lisboa promete animar la economía de Montijo 3/3/2017
https://www.eldiario.es/economia/expansion-aeropuerto-Lisboa-economia-Montijo_0_618388383.html

[1] La expansión del aeropuerto de Lisboa promete animar la economía de Montijo
https://www.eldiario.es/economia/expansion-aeropuerto-Lisboa-economia-Montijo_0_618388383.html

[2] El futuro aeropuerto de Lisboa nace con polémica. 8 Jan 2019
https://elpais.com/economia/2019/01/08/actualidad/1546940118_025109.html

[3] Expansion work of Porto Airport has already begun 29/04/2019
http://www.porto.pt/noticias/expansion-work-of-porto-airport-has-already-begun

[4] Estudo de impacte ambiental favorável ao Montijo, mas falta consulta pública 29/07/2019
https://observador.pt/2019/07/29/estudo-de-impacte-ambiental-da-luz-verde-ao-aeroporto-do-montijo/

[5] AEROPORTO MONTIJO: TERMINOU A CONSULTA PÚBLICA DO EIA. 20/09/2019
https://www.publituris.pt/2019/09/20/aeroporto-montijo-terminou-a-consulta-publica-do-eia/

[6] Montijo. Prazo de consulta pública do Estudo de Impacto Ambiental termina esta quinta-feira. 19/09/2019
https://observador.pt/2019/09/19/montijo-prazo-de-consulta-publica-do-estudo-de-impacto-ambiental-termina-esta-quinta-feira/

[7] Mais aviões? Só a brincar. Movimento Aterra volta a manifestar-se, agora na Air Summit 30/05/2019
https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/mais-avioes-so-a-brincar-movimento-aterra-volta-a-manifestar-se-agora-na-air-summit?fbclid=IwAR1QlpGI7kDy8OxbRCQpCgayVzey0Ny2m2fM5x0MWSJtZqaN4YtBlfiMyXs

[11] Cientistas alertam para “quatro graves falhas” no estudo sobre aeroporto do Montijo. 1/11/2019
https://www.publico.pt/2019/11/01/sociedade/noticia/cientistas-alertam-quatro-graves-falhas-estudo-aeroporto-montijo-1892170?fbclid=IwAR1QRB5pk-T8vY3WGbB5RDC_3Vwi8VFlDuFV1oTth50bG76NgNh5tGYD6vs

Cientistas alertam para “quatro graves falhas” no estudo sobre aeroporto do Montijo. 1/11/2019
https://www.publico.pt/2019/11/01/sociedade/noticia/cientistas-alertam-quatro-graves-falhas-estudo-aeroporto-montijo-1892170?fbclid=IwAR1QRB5pk-T8vY3WGbB5RDC_3Vwi8VFlDuFV1oTth50bG76NgNh5tGYD6vs

2050: novo aeroporto de Lisboa vai ficar inundado e passará a ser o terminal de cacilheiros mais caro do mundo. 8/11/2019
https://inimigo.publico.pt/2019/11/08/2050-novo-aeroporto-de-lisboa-vai-ficar-inundado-e-passara-a-ser-o-terminal-de-cacilheiros-mais-caro-do-mundo/?fbclid=IwAR17FZCSCgyS47n4t-qA6JfEIijGWzw3C_BImsOM2VPRmtQo-nqFHvuBvyI

El Gobierno portugués da luz verde a un nuevo aeropuerto en Lisboa que podría inundarse antes de 2050. 31/10/2019
https://www.elmundo.es/economia/ahorro-y-consumo/2019/10/31/5dbadf0ffdddff81708b463c.html?fbclid=IwAR2ucWRPraKDnBH4OqU7pGNwf58iUF-HFHa7ClskLA6pji1b0RtTgYDg6vc

A insustentabilidade climática da expansão aeroportuária de Lisboa. 23/09/2019
https://www.publico.pt/2019/09/23/economia/opiniao/insustentabilidade-climatica-expansao-aeroportuaria-lisboa-1887558?fbclid=IwAR0kxCyh9KY7HqIflyaoPGsf8OVCmmh9uUniaErJ8-GfhDvTGcuAqT2GxQU

Aeroporto no Montijo. Consulta pública ao Estudo de Impacte Ambiental terminou com 1.086 participações. 20 Sep 2019
https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/aeroporto-no-montijo-consulta-publica-ao-estudo-de-impacte-ambiental-terminou-com-1-086-participacoes?fbclid=IwAR3RHVur3HcwyjX4iBgvCkoc2mWEVvCOq_Es0MVBAgAM1-5bs94Qdb98JuQ

Novo aeroporto: 60 personalidades assinam manifesto “Poupem o Montijo”. 14 Sept 2019
https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2019-09-14-Novo-aeroporto-60-personalidades-assinam-manifesto-Poupem-o-Montijo?fbclid=IwAR2wBaDmpwDLV3e-dQgqznaW7gwZr9lOszKXa1rlS9v1eQAdrmzMkXdRf_A

Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network

[8] ATERRA interrompe o maior evento de aviação da península ibérica. Aterra facebook
https://www.facebook.com/menosavioes/videos/vb.2256273844700724/2038060229835590/?type=2&theater

[9] Extincion Rebelion Portugal
https://www.facebook.com/XR.Portugal/

[10] Manifesto Por um Aeroporto Sustentável para Lisboa. 14/09/2019
https://poupemomontijo.nocentro.com/?fbclid=IwAR2G8lDMyq4EyR9lIgENu6LJ3liG4ss1ucXYkv3lAjMRl14mny-yy7oGOyM

ATERRA interrompe o maior evento de aviação da península ibérica. Aterra facebook
https://www.facebook.com/menosavioes/videos/vb.2256273844700724/2038060229835590/?type=2&theater

Manifesto Por um Aeroporto Sustentável para Lisboa. 14/09/2019
https://poupemomontijo.nocentro.com/?fbclid=IwAR2G8lDMyq4EyR9lIgENu6LJ3liG4ss1ucXYkv3lAjMRl14mny-yy7oGOyM

Meta information

Contributor:Luis Falcão - Aterra - [email protected]
Last update14/11/2019
Conflict ID:4734

Images

 

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.

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

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

source: Aterra facebook

The flamingos threatened by the montijo airport invaded the streets of Lisbon. 4th Oct 2019