BUSINESS NEWS
Climate committee flags aviation’s emissions rise
Ian Taylor
The UK Climate Change Committee urged the government to make it a priority “to ensure aviation takes responsibility for its emissions” last week, describing increased emissions over the past year a “cause for concern”. The committee, set up in 2008
to assess progress on climate change and advise ministers, suggested in a report to Parliament that government policies to reduce emissions “have improved since last year”, with ministers having taken “some steps to improve clarity for businesses”. However, it issued warnings
on the impact of rising aviation emissions and government support for airport expansion, noting: “Aviation emissions have risen quickly over the past two years. If this growth continues, it could pose a risk to meeting future targets.” The committee reported that
a net reduction in overall UK emissions last year “was weakened by an increase in [some] sectors, with emissions from aviation
Charity calls for end to ‘harmful tourism models’
The Travel Foundation urged an end to “high-emission short breaks” last week, describing them as a “harmful tourism model”. The sustainability charity called for a “global initiative to phase out
travelweekly.co.uk
Aviation emissions ‘are rising quickly’
rebounding by 9%, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels”. Aviation is now among the
six highest-emitting sectors in the UK – along with surface transport, industry, electricity supply, residential buildings and agriculture – and the committee warned: “Government may need to take additional demand management measures [in the sector].” It noted: “The most significant
driver since 1990 has been rising demand for international flights, particularly leisure. Aviation emissions now contribute a greater
share to the UK emissions total than the electricity supply sector. “This stands in stark contrast to
the situation in 1990, when aviation emissions were 10 times lower than emissions from electricity and close to half their current level.” The committee warned: “UK
emissions targets could be at risk if growth in aviation demand and emissions continues to increase. To mitigate this, the cost of decarbonising aviation and addressing non-CO2 effects should be reflected in the cost to fly. This will help manage growth in aviation demand.” However, noting “the government
has approved and indicated support for several airport expansions in the past year”, the committee called for “robust contingencies” to be in place, “including managing the forecast increase in aviation demand”. At the same time, the committee
called on the government to make electricity cheaper for consumers. Interim chair Professor Piers Forster said: “The government needs to do more to ensure people see the benefits of climate action in bills.”
Airport expansion ‘gives sector a licence to emit’
The Aviation Environment Federation (AEF) responded to the Climate Change Committee report by criticising government support for airport expansion, saying “hopes 2019 would be the peak year for aviation emissions have been dashed”. The AEF noted the UK’s
contribution to global aviation emissions hit its “highest-ever” level last year at 36.06 million tonnes (Mt), compared with 36.02Mt in 2019. It suggested the growth is “being
driven by larger planes flying farther on international routes”, based on an increase in the average distance of flights from 2,766km to 2,801km between 2019 and 2024, and argued: “Aviation is set to become the highest-emitting sector of the UK economy by 2040. “Yet the government is inviting
proposals for the expansion of Heathrow, the biggest-emitting airport in the country. In 2024, it granted permission to London City to expand; in April, it gave the green light for Luton to expand; and a decision is expected on expansion of Gatwick in the autumn.” AEF director Tim Johnson said:
“We seem to be awarding aviation a special licence to emit.”
Jeremy Sampson
harmful tourism models, such as high-emission short breaks and overtouristed hotspots” while seeking support for a “just transition” in destinations, which it said would require reskilling workers, building “regenerative alternatives” and redirecting investment. The proposal is one of four
issued by the charity as part of its ‘Where Next? Action Agenda’ to be launched at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in November.
It also called for the creation of a
global climate risk register, a climate justice fund for destinations, and a requirement for “community-led planning and destination equity” to become key performance indicators in all tourism development. Jeremy Sampson, Travel
Foundation chief executive, said: “We’ll be working closely with destinations, partners and global stakeholders to turn this agenda into tangible action.”
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