Aviation Letter

Friends of the Earth was criticised by the Sheffield Star recently for its view on air travel. The Star claimed, “Friends of the Earth are no fans of aviation, believing air travel is the worst culprit in the rise in pollution which accompanies transportation trends and regularly opposed airport expansions. Now they warn the proliferation of airports in regions such as ours actually saps money out of local incomes than pumps into them. However, the environmental campaign group, in attacking the symptoms of the problem rather than the cause, should be honest and tell us that we should give up short breaks in foreign countries, and spend holiday pay at home. Then we wonder, what would they say to the hundreds of thousands whose jobs rely on air travel – and how would they explain to some of the poorer countries which have embraced the concept of tourism that the British holidaymaker has become an insular isolationist group. This is just the kind of extremist clutching of straws which does little credit to an organisation which ought to be carefully, considerately and consistently earning the respect of the general public.”.

In response to this, the local Sheffield group responded with the letter below:

Friends of the Earth’s concerns about aviation are not based on belief, but established science. Aviation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. There is an overwhelming scientific consensus that these are responsible for climate change. We therefore have no problem in justifying our stance to smaller countries. The economic damage associated with climate change will be huge and will fall most heavily upon the developing world. Unfortunately cheap flights are costing us the earth. This may be an unpopular message, but it is true.

Aviation & Climate Change

Aviation growth is on a ‘collision course’ with targets to reduce greenhouse gases, according to a report from the University of York’s Stockholm Environment Institute. The research has been sent to key decision makers across the globe, including the UN, the WHO and several governments. It claims that there is an urgent need to reduce global greenhouse gases and calls on the aviation industry to play its full role in doing so.

Report co-author, John Whitelegg, said “The growth in demand for flying is one of the most serious environmental threats that the world faces. It has been fuelled by generous tax breaks and state aid and is contrary to the objectives of environmental policy, especially efforts to prevent the worst consequences of climate change.”

www.planningresource.co.uk

 

Aviation Facts

One flight to and from the US could cause more pollution than the average UK motorist does in a year..

Just one return flight from London to Miami produces as much carbon dioxide (CO2) as the average British motorist does driving for a whole year. Carbon dioxide is the principal cause of climate change .

The facts are:

• The world's 16,000 commercial jet aircraft produce more than 600 million tonnes of CO2 every year, nearly as much as all the countries of Africa put together;
• The number of people flying will almost double in the next 15 years;
• Tourist destinations including the Maldives could be submerged because of sea-level rises caused by climate change;
• Airlines pay no tax on the kerosene they use and therefore do not have sufficient incentive to conserve fuel or increase passenger loadings.

Friends of the Earth wants consumers to consider holidaying nearer home, to take trains instead of short flights and to use teleconferencing to replace unessential business flights.

Simon McRae, Aviation Campaigner of Friends of the Earth said: “People may not know that flying is so polluting. Despite the damage they do, airlines, unlike other transport users, pay no tax on the fuel they use. So they have less incentive to save fuel. And passengers have no incentive to consider less polluting ways to travel”.