Mon 18 Nov 2019, 08:45 AM | Posted by editor
LETTER from Mark Langabeer, Newton Abbot Labour Party
Panorama investigative reporter, Justin Rowlett, examined whether the aviation industry are doing enough to reduce its carbon footprint. The days of air travel being the preserve for the rich and famous have long gone. The era of cheap flights has seen passenger numbers double over the past thirty years. They are expected to double again by 2037.One in twelve flights are made by British passport holders and Heathrow Airport is the busiest in Europe. Around1300 planes depart every day and the decision to build a third runway will make Heathrow the most used airport worldwide.
Experts rank aviation as one of the chief polluters and a major contributor of greenhouse gases. The burning of kerosene, the fuel used in aviation, is a big polluter and there are currently no or little alternatives. Rowlett travelled in a plane powered by batteries. However, flying in this aircraft is limited to one hour with two people on board. At present, they are only viable for training pilots. British Airways and Shell are investing in converting landfill waste into fuel. This would reduce carbon emissions but not eliminate it. A leading expert, Professor David Lee of the Metropolitan University, believes that the aviation industry is decades away from achieving sustainable fuel.
Lee argues that Government action is required to force change. Another idea is what is known as offsetting. Ryanair asked passengers to make a voluntary contribution of €1/£1 for projects that reduce carbon emissions. Professor Simon Lewis from UCL described this as nothing more than a gimmick, because it will do little to reduce our carbon footprint. A UN-backed body called the ICAO, which involves 190 countries, are participating in a scheme that adds all carbon emissions and if above the targets, will result in a charge. Andrew Murphy, from the Transport and Environment Campaign argued that carbon offsetting wouldn’t work and described it as a ‘ get of jail free card ‘ for the aviation industry.
Rowlett interviewed an employee of British Airways, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being dismissed, who revealed the practice of tankering. This involves the loading of more fuel than required, to avoid fuelling up at the more expensive airports. It’s a common practice throughout the industry and saves £230 million. As the anonymous employee states, ‘profit is the priority’ not preventing climate change. In my view, British Airways should be back in public hands so that the aviation industry can play its part in averting the catastrophic consequences of global warming.
