Extension of the Nice Airport, France
Description:
In 2018, Aéroport de la Côte d’Azur announced a new project for the building of a new jetty (for middle-2021) and a new terminal (for 2022/2023) [2] to increase the capacity of the airport of 4 millions passengers per year to attain 18 millions in 2023 [1], and finally 21,6 millions in 2030 [7] (according to the file submitted by the airport, i.e. +50% in passenger traffic between 2019 and 2030). The project was immediately opposed by local residents and environmental organisations – especially the Collectif citoyen 06. The mobilisation took place mainly online and during the public consultation put in place by the French local authorities about the building permit at the end of 2019. [5] However, the French government said that the project was “coherent” and the authorities granted the permit [4]. Two organisations – France Nature Environnement Paca et Alpes-Maritimes and Capre 06 – technically supported by the Collectif Citoyen 06 [3] to challenge the permit before the administrative court of Marseille and the case is pending [6]. Numerous arguments were brought against the project. First, it would have a negative impact on the climate because of the increase in greenhouse gas emission [6] and the disturbance of the fauna – especially protected birds – in the protected area near the airport [7]. Second, it would have an impact on the residents for the increased air traffic [3] and the increased road traffic near the airport [4]. Most of these concerns were raised in the report of the public consultation [5]. Moreover, an impact assessment report stated that the current airport was ‘compatible with the increase of the global demand’ [3]. The 'Mission régionale d'autorité environnementale' criticised this impact assessement for being incomplete on the environmental impact of the project [8]. |
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Extension of the Nice Airport, France |
| Country: | France |
| State or province: | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| Location of conflict: | Nice |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
Source of Conflict
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Infrastructure and Built Environment |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Other Ports and airport projects |
| Specific commodities: | Land Tourism services |
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | Aéroport de la Côte d’Azur's project consists of building of a new jetty (for middle-2021) and a new terminal (for 2022/2023) [2] to increase the capacity of the airport of 4 millions passengers per year to achieve 18 millions in 2023 [1]. |
| Project area: | 2.5 |
| Type of population | Urban |
| Affected Population: | 400 000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 01/07/2018 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur from France EDF Invest from France Monaco from Monaco Atlantia S.p.A. from Italy |
| Relevant government actors: | - préfet des Alpes Maritimes (local government representative) - Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Nice (local public entity aiming at helping the economic sector), co-owner of the airport - local authorities, co-owners of the airport |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | - Collectif citoyen 06 http://www.pearltrees.com/collectifcitoyen06 / https://www.facebook.com/lobbycollectifcitoyen06/ - France Nature Environnement Paca et Alpes-Maritimes - Capre 06 |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | In REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation) |
| Groups mobilizing: | International ejos Local ejos Landless peasants Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements |
| Forms of mobilization: | Development of a network/collective action Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Global warming, Noise pollution Potential: Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation |
| Health Impacts | Potential: Other environmental related diseases |
Outcome
| Project Status | Planned (decision to go ahead eg EIA undertaken, etc) |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Court decision (undecided) |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | The opponents ask for the cancellation of the project. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
| Briefly explain: | The project is still ongoing but it could be cancelled by the court. |
Sources & Materials
| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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Meta information
| Contributor: | Clarisse Mace |
| Conflict ID: | 5469 |
Images |
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Nice airport
"Environnement: des associations s'opposent au projet d'extension de l'aéroport de Nice", BFMtv, 05/02/2020, https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/environnement-des-associations-s-opposent-au-projet-d-extension-de-l-aeroport-de-nice_AN-202002050051.html.
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