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Giant Airbus not the solution to aviation's climate impact
18 May 2006
The giant European A380 Airbus, which is due to land at Heathrow airport for the first time this afternoon, is not the answer to the growing impact that air travel is having on climate change, Friends of the Earth said today.
The plane has been touted as being "environmentally friendly". But Friends of the Earth says that although cleaner aircraft are needed, the benefits from building slightly more fuel-efficient aeroplanes will be easily swamped by the anticipated huge increase in air travel. The environmental campaign group says that government action is needed to reduce the anticipated growth in air travel.
Friends of the Earth's aviation campaigner, Richard Dyer, said:
"Cleaner aircraft are certainly needed, but they are not the solution to the rising impact of aviation emissions on our climate. Any benefits gained by building more fuel efficient aircraft will be swamped by the rapid growth in air travel. Government action is urgently required to curb the anticipated rise in flights. This must include ending the £9bn effective subsidy handed to the air industry by UK taxpayers every year, and the scrapping of ludicrous plans for a massive expansion of British airports."
Friends of the Earth's climate campaign, The Big Ask, is calling on the Government to introduce a package of measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. More info: www.thebigask.com
Note
[1] Airbus press release 17.01.05: "incorporating the most advanced technologies available in this decade, it will be the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly airliner ever built."
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
