Aviation and the Environment

BAR UK position

A global emissions scheme for a global industry is required. BAR UK supports the call for an ICAO-led emissions scheme to replace the EU ETS and the UK’s Air Passenger Duty.

The airline and aviation industries have been accused of all sorts of matters in respect of the environment, and especially climate change.

Aviation creates emissions and the industry recognises that it must not only pay its way to offset its environmental costs, but also develop new technologies and practices to actually reduce its impacts. It has done so on a continuing basis for many years, and will continue to do so.

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) includes aviation from January 2012.

This is not a perfect scheme by any means, and many BAR UK members have expressed various concerns. However, it is far more focussed than Air Passenger Duty (APD) which has proven itself to be nothing more than a tax measure against air travellers.

However, what airlines really seek is a global scheme for a global matter. This requires the International Civil Aviation Organisation (a governmental body) to have its own emissions scheme worldwide, to replace both the EU ETS and APD.

Over and above emissions schemes, environmental gains are possible through new technologies, new fuels, new procedures and, last but not least, better-organised air traffic control centres. This relies on the political will of many countries, not least those within the EU, to enable really great gains to be made.

Until 2007, there had been no cohesive forum to either debate, or explain, the points of views that exist or the actions that have already been taken, and what can be done in the future.

That forum now exists, and is called 'Flying Matters'.

Click here for much more information ( www.flyingmatters.org.uk/ )

Video: "Towards Zero Emissions"