Extinction Rebellion activists blocked an event in The Hague on Wednesday where representatives from the travel and aviation sector explained to members of the House of Representatives about the ten-point plan for future-proof aviation presented in January. These ten points were presented in January this year by 31 parties from the travel and aviation sector, as input for the coalition agreement 2023-2027 of the new cabinet (in the making). The proposers of the ten points include KLM, Transavia, TUI, Corendon, ANVR, trade unions, employers, and universities and universities of applied sciences. Many of these parties, including representatives of KLM, TUI, Corendon, Easyjet and universities, were in The Hague on Wednesday to explain the plans for future-proof aviation. Almost all portfolio holders of the political parties were invited to attend. The presentation took place in The Hague Conference Center, next to The Hague Central Station. However, about 40 Extinction Rebellion activists blocked the hall of the building, preventing a larger group of more than 100 guests, including civil servants and policy officers, from attending the event. 
In a statement on its own website, Extinction Rebellion (together with Scientist Rebellion) writes: ‘The era in which the aviation lobby can freely impose its demands on politicians must come to an end. It is madness that aviation has been able to throw around fables for so long in order to protect its own vested interest. Today we show that it stops here.’ On X (formerly Twitter, ed.), the action group says on Wednesday: ‘Because of these kinds of lobbying practices, the phasing out of fossil subsidies continues to be postponed. For these companies and universities, money and power come at the expense of human lives, animal lives and ecosystems.’ The action groups are calling for an immediate reduction in aviation. Clarify The companies involved in the aviation sector that had organized the event had counted on a great session, a spokesman told TravMagazine on Wednesday evening. ‘It’s a shame that a small group is forcing this stage. We wanted to make it clear in a positive way how the Dutch who would like to go on holiday can do so in a future-proof way. ́ Arjan Kers, Managing Director of TUI Netherlands and Belgium, explains on his LinkedIn page how and why of the ten points. ‘One of my personal motivations is that you get further as a team than alone. That together you can find the answers to the major challenges we face. That is why I think it is very important that today 31 parties entered into discussions with MPs and their staff about what is needed for a future-proof aviation for all Dutch people. It is only through dialogue that we can develop a common vision and arrive at coherent policies. All perspectives were welcome and critical questions about the pace of sustainability were put on the table, as was achieving results for the environment. But also the call for cooperation. Our goal is to work together with politicians and government, based on our 10 commitments, to create a joint action agenda that will make Dutch aviation cleaner, quieter and stronger, for all of us.’
