Climate Impact: Game Changer For Third Runway At Vienna Aiport

In February 2017 the Federal Administrative Court hindered the plans for a third runway to be built at Vienna Airport, explaining that the positive aspects of the project could not justify the extra carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution. The decision was reached despite the court conceding to the fact that air traffic will increase in the future and thus a third runway is necessary. This may be the first time that any court worldwide has rejected a project due to climate protection.

Facts

The Federal Administrative Court's decision regarding the environmental impact assessment (EIA) proceeding was based on the following:

• The construction of a third runway would be contrary to Austria's national and international obligations to mitigate climate change by decreasing its annual CO2 emissions.