Not on my watch: Furious Swiss motorists rip banners from climate protesters’ hands after they stopped Easter holiday traffic by glueing themselves to road
- The protesters were around the northern entrance to the Gotthard Tunnel
- Footage shows some of them being carried off towards police cars
Furious Swiss motorists ripped banners from climate protesters’ hands after they stopped Easter holiday traffic by gluing themselves to a road.
Climate change activists brought holiday traffic to a halt in Switzerland on Friday when they blocked a main route through the Alps to demand urgent action against global warming.
Protesters from the group Renovate Switzerland glued themselves to the motorway surface around the northern entrance to the Gotthard Tunnel, the group said, worsening the lengthy tailbacks during a peak holiday period.
Footage shows one motorist grab a purple sign reading ‘renovate’ before hurling it to the side of the road.
She then walks over to snatch another banner from the group who are sat on the road wearing orange Hi Vis jackets as frustrated motorists stand watching over them.
Climate activists of Renovate Switzerland block the A2 highway at Gotthard Tunnel in Goeschenen, Switzerland, on April 7, 2023
Protesters from the group Renovate Switzerland glued themselves to the motorway surface around the northern entrance to the Gotthard Tunnel. The protesters were approached by members of the public
The video shows some of the protesters being carried off from the scene and escorted towards police cars.
The 17km tunnel connects northern Switzerland to Italy.
Good Friday, the first day of the Easter holiday long weekend, is typically one of its busiest days.
Switzerland’s ATS news agency reported that the protesters sat on the southbound carriageway at around 10:00 am (0800 GMT) and glued their hands to the road.
Other motorists angrily swiped at their banners.
Police removed a group of activists around 30 minutes later and the tunnel reopened at around 11:00 am.
Video shows some of the protesters being carried off from the scene
Pictured: Protesters blocking the full length of the road. Switzerland’s ATS news agency reported that the protesters sat on the southbound carriageway at around 10:00 am (0800 GMT) and glued their hands to the road
Pictured: Protesters are met with police and angry motorists on April 7, 2023
Renovate Switzerland said six activists aged 19 to 60 were arrested.
‘Renovate Switzerland is back on the streets,’ the group said via Twitter.
‘This is an appeal to our fellow citizens. Let’s demand together that the Swiss government finally declares a climate emergency.’
They also tweeted that ‘inaction in the face of the climate catastrophe is more disturbing than 15-kilometre tailbacks’.
Police told Reuters the road had been cleared and traffic had now resumed under the tunnel after the protest. It added that there were tailbacks of 17km.
The Touring Club Suisse drivers’ association said motorists were facing more than a three-hour wait.
After around 30 minutes, police removed a group of activists and the tunnel reopened at around 11:00 am
Pictured right: An angry motorists confronts a group of protesters. ‘Renovate Switzerland is back on the streets,’ the group said via Twitter. ‘This is an appeal to our fellow citizens. Let’s demand together that the Swiss government finally declares a climate emergency’
Renovate Switzerland wants the Swiss government to declare a climate emergency and plan for the thermal renovation of every building in the country by 2035.
The country is warming at more than twice the global rate and its glaciers are melting quickly.
In response, the government wants to invest 4.1 billion Swiss francs (£3.65 billion) on renovating buildings, modernising the transport infrastructure and other measures to halve greenhouse emissions by 2030 from 1990 levels.
Karuna Babajee, a 19-year-old student, said she was scared to take part in the protest but felt compelled to act.
Pictured right: A protester is escorted towards a police car. Police told Reuters the road had been cleared traffic had now resumed under the tunnel after the protest. They said there were tailbacks of 17 km
‘I’m doing it because I’m terrified and angry that my generation is being sentenced to death,’ she said.
The Gotthard Pass has been a key trade route across the Alps since the Middle Ages.
The road tunnel, which has one lane in each direction and opened in 1980, typically sees traffic jams around the Easter and summer holidays.
It remains a key transport link between northern and southern Europe with two rail tunnels under the pass.
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