Green aviation reforms not yet embraced by government
A government report on the future aviation policy has disappointed green groups by failing to throw its weight behind a campaign of changes to emissions targets.
The report aimed to respond to analysis presented by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) in late 2009, much of which concerned the future of air travel. The CCC’s findings appear to indicate that the UK could be on course to fail in meeting its strict target of reducing emissions by 80 per cent in 2050.
Yesterday’s response from the Department for Transport (DfT) accepted that the CCC was correct to warn about aviation emissions breaching the UK’s legal emissions limits, a scenario that it admits could occur if further action is not taken.
The DfT noted that aviation emissions could easily reach 49 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year by 2050, just above the CCC’s projections, and it added they could even reach as high as 59 million tonnes by the same date.
However, the report gave few hints as to how the government will stop emissions rising to this level when it publishes its Sustainable Framework for UK Aviation document early next year.
The government’s stance on airport size is also placed under the spotlight, with fears that displacing air traffic to other countries harming the UK economy contributing to a strong resistance to any moves towards aimed at limiting capacity. There are also concerns that this could lead to “less-efficient routing of passengers and cargo, with a consequential increase in global demand for aviation and hence CO2 emissions.”
The major airlines are thought to be strongly opposed to any measures that could reduce demand. Instead they have focused their efforts on securing technical efficiency improvements to reduce emissions, as well as investing in nascent biofuel technologies.
In a foreword to the response, transport secretary Philip Hammond explained that cutting emissions from the sector should not negatively affect growth.
Philip Hammond said:
“I believe that to present the challenge we face as one of deciding between economic growth and reducing carbon emissions is a false choice.
“This government is anti-carbon, not anti-aviation, and our goal is to find ways to meet our carbon reduction targets while supporting economic recovery.”
Green groups have spoken out against the government’s policies, claiming that short-term measures such as carbon caps, replacing short-haul flights with trains and promoting videoconferencing can provide effective carbon reduction rewards. In the long-term, they share the airlines’ belief in the prospects of jet biofuels.
A WWF-UK spokesman said:
“It’s a shame the government has not taken this opportunity to set a UK target on aviation emissions,” she said in a statement. “Our efforts to tackle climate change rely on aviation making real reductions. The government’s indecision will only lead to more confusion.”
The Department for Transport report can be read here: http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/reducing-co2-emissions
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