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Aviation industry not doing enough to go green - new report
25 November 2009
Commenting on today's report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) which shows that the fuel efficiency of new aircraft has barely improved since 2000, Friends of the Earth's transport campaigner Richard Dyer said:
"This report shows that aviation industry claims about the rate at which planes are getting greener are pie in the sky and cannot be trusted.
"Aviation is a significant and growing source of carbon emissions worldwide. We cannot allow expensive new runways to be built on the hope that some super-green aircraft technology may come along in future.
"An international standard on emissions for all new planes is needed to accelerate the introduction of cleaner aircraft technologies.
"Government plans to expand UK airports must be scrapped - we must invest in cleaner, affordable alternatives to flying such as fast rail services instead."
Key findings of the ICCT report are:
· New aircraft fuel efficiency has barely improved since 2000
· New aircraft fuel efficiency has improved substantially in only 2 of the last 5 decades
· Fuel costs alone are not sufficient to stimulate increased aircraft efficiency
· An international CO2 standard for all newly built and future aircraft is needed
Notes to Editor
1. A copy of the report by the International Council on Clean Transportation can be found here http://www.theicct.org/documents/ICCT_Aircraft_Efficiency_final.pdf
2. The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) aims to dramatically improve the environmental performance and efficiency of cars, trucks, buses, and transportation systems in order to protect and improve public health, the environment, and quality of life http://www.theicct.org/.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Nov 2009
