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June 17, 2025
Press Release

Coalition of groups call out Paris Air Show’s outrageous greenwash

A subvertising action at the Paris Air Show.
  • Environmental groups have called out the world’s largest aerospace trade event for promoting climate-wrecking aviation growth.
  • Activists replaced adverts in Paris to criticise the Paris Air Show which is being held from 16th-22nd June 2025.

16th June 2025 –  Environmental groups and activists have called out the world’s largest aerospace trade show for greenwashing and promoting false solutions.

Activists replaced large-format advertisements in downtown Paris to criticise the Paris Air Show which is being held at Le Bourget Airport from 16th to 22nd June 2025.

The trade show claims to demonstrate innovation in aviation when in fact it is focused on greenwashing and celebrating infinite air traffic growth which is devastating for the climate.

The replacement poster used by the activists, in shades of red and white, shows a devastated, smoldering land flown over by a plane. The slogan “Making the sky the most polluting place on earth” is a reference to a famous Air France slogan.

Groups, including Action Justice Climate Paris, Attac France, Extinction Rebellion Ile-de-France, Résistance à l’Aggression Publicitaire, and Rester Sur Terre aimed for the action to raise awareness among the general public ahead of the international fair.

Charlène Fleury, coordinator of the Rester sur Terre network said: “Technological solutions, and in particular so-called “SAF” (for “Sustainable aviation fuels”), are systematically put forward to display a hypothetical decarbonization of the aviation sector. However,  they cannot be deployed quickly and sustainably enough to curb the climate crisis. Furthermore, it is the cumulative emissions that are important: it is not enough to reach “Net zero” in 2050, we must limit cumulative emissions between now and 2050, which implies significantly reducing emissions now. “   

Hannah Lawrence, spokesperson from the Stay Grounded network, said: “The Paris Air Show is further proof that the aviation industry cannot be trusted to reduce its own emissions. Aviation is the most climate-wrecking and unequal mode of transport with those who have never set foot on a plane being the most impacted by aviation’s devastating emissions.”

Far from envisioning a reduction of air traffic, the sector promises traffic growth of around 3% per year, and continues to orchestrate this growth, thanks in particular to airport expansion projects, such as those recently announced at Beauvais and Roissy. Alongside associations defending residents near airports, climate activists are contesting these projects and campaigning for them to be cancelled, due to their climate and health impacts.

Françoise Brochot, president of ADVOCNAR, an association defending residents near Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle said: “Constant exposure to noise, day and night, causes sleep disturbances, chronic stress, fatigue, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Added to this is air pollution linked to fine particles and nitrogen oxides emitted by aircraft engines, aggravating respiratory problems, allergies, and increasing the risk of cancer.” This project threatens the quality of life, health and future of the populations who already live in the shadow of aircraft. ” A petition addressed to Ms. Pannier-Runacher, Minister of Ecological Transition, was launched on Tuesday, June 10, to stop the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle extension project. (2)

The above coalition of associations denounced the fair for promoting false solutions and intended for this action to highlight the profound injustice of air traffic growth. Flying remains a mode of transportation reserved for a wealthy minority.

Camille Lavelle, spokesperson for Action Justice Climate Paris said: “Globally, 1% of people are responsible for more than 50% of aviation emissions. Yet it is the poorest, in France as well as in developing countries, who bear the brunt of the consequences of climate change, noise, pollution, and unfair transportation policies.”

Camille Aboudaram, Campaign Manager for “Stop Climate-Cutting Adverts” at Résistance à l’Agression Publicitaire said: “It’s high time to stop the airline industry from blithely greenwashing its image at major events like the Paris Air Show, in the press, or through advertising. Letting the general public and policymakers believe that traffic growth is compatible with the climate emergency is greenwashing, which is against the law.”
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NOTES FOR EDITORS:

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