The ViVA! citizen assembly strongly opposes the expansion of terminal 2. The members denounce a project that is ecocidal and harmful to the environment, public health, and the living conditions of local residents.
As part of the ongoing public inquiry, the ViVA! group has reaffirmed its historical opposition to the extension of the Nice-Côte d’Azur airport. This project, which plans for an increase in air traffic and the number of passengers reaching 21 million by 2034, raises many concerns. According to ViVA!, it will generate an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, heightened noise pollution, and additional atmospheric pollution. This would directly affect the local populations, particularly the most vulnerable groups.
The assembly also denounces the inconsistencies of local authorities who, while claiming to combat climate change, support a project that promotes the use of fossil fuels. This extension contradicts the objective of reducing GHG emissions by 55% by 2030, as announced by the metropolis.
An Ignored Health and Environmental Impact
ViVA! points to major gaps in the impact study presented by the project’s promoters. The effects of ultrafine pollutants, which are particularly harmful to health, are not assessed. The already problematic noise pollution would worsen with an increase of 28,000 flights per year. This would expose more people to risks of sleep disorders, stress, cardiovascular diseases…
According to them, the project also does not take into account risks related to climate change, such as flooding or the gradual submersion of the airport’s ground. Finally, no serious measures are planned to protect biodiversity, despite the proximity of a Natura 2000 site.
For ViVA!, this extension reflects a headlong rush toward over-tourism, with its consequences on the housing crisis and territorial saturation. The association calls for more environmentally and locally respectful economic and tourist choices.
In 2019, more than 13,000 citizens had signed a petition against this project. Even today, ViVA! invites people to mobilize to oppose this extension.