Curb the growth of Aviation by Jane Brophy

Jane Brophy argues we must act to curb the growth of aviation

When polled by Liberal Democrat Voice last Autumn, only 17% of Lib Dem members opposed any increase in UK aviation capacity, compared to 79% who oppose the third Heathrow runway, so it was of little surprise that the Lib Dems in Brighton passed the aviation policy motion which accepts the potential for 60% increase in air traffic movements, but not a third Heathrow runway. The arguments against the third Heathrow runway have already been well made by many in the Liberal Democrats, and the policy passed at our autumn conference in September overwhelmingly rejected the case for any new runways in London, the East of England and the South East.

I think we need to update our Lib Dem policy in the area of developing regional airport hubs in the UK. These regional airport hubs assume that we maintain our current UK aviation capacity. If we are to avoid the very worst destructive forces of climate change I believe we should be aiming for an overall reduction in UK aviation starting from today. Investment in regional airports is a distraction from our overall aim of reducing global carbon emissions. The aviation industry has until recently been very slow to address reducing carbon emissions, and even with improvements in technology, it remains a significant and growing contributor to global warming. Our high speed rail proposals which link the UK to the rest of Europe are a far more important investment to promote green economic growth.

In 2009, the independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC) recommended that, in order for the UK to meet its target of 80% reduction in emissions by 2050, aviation emissions of CO2 in 2050 should not exceed 2009 the levels of 37.5 Mt per year. The CCC suggested that for this to be possible, air traffic movements should not be allowed to expand by more than 60% of current levels.

Targets which allow the expansion of aviation and still protect the planet from runaway climate change seem to me very out of date. The 60% recommendation expansion limit on air traffic movements is from three years ago. Before the recent news showing that our Arctic ice is melting faster than most previous scientific predictions.

Current scientific evidence shows that global warming is happening at an alarming rate, and much faster than previously thought. Recent studies show that it is increasingly unlikely that global warming will be kept below an increase of 2C above preindustrial levels. Data shows that global CO2 emissions in 2012 hit 35.6bn tonnes, a 2.6% increase

from 2011 and 58% above 1990 levels. The continuing increase in carbon emissions is mostly due to economic growth in China. I now believe that 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 is not soon enough to save our planet. The UK must do more to lead the world to even deeper and faster cuts.

The UK, which is less than 1% of the world's population, accounts for 10% of international air travel. And the UK has double the number of runways compared to Japan, which has double the population of the UK and a higher GDP. Where is the case for increased aviation for the UK? A 60% expansion seems wrong when our planet reached Earth Overshoot Day for 2012 on August 22nd. For the rest of the year we ran on ecological overdraft as humanity had exhausted nature's budget.

Just as there was plenty of space on the roads for cars when only the rich used them, but not when the masses had them; so the environment could cope with aviation when only the super-rich used it, but not now that more of the world's population can afford it.

Europe already has more than its fair share of world aviation. The UK has more than its fair share of European aviation. London, the East of England and the South East have more than their fair share of UK aviation. If emissions are not to increase as more of the developing world's population take a fair share of air travel, the per capita share will have to fall below that currently taken by the UK population. The UK should be considering policies to reduce aviation and make the price of air travel truly reflect the impact on our planet's environment. Like many people I loved the Olympics. And it is true that aviation helps to connect people who live in different countries. But let's consider what happened in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. They had car free days to cut pollution - why don't we have flight-free days to cut our carbon emissions? Perhaps we should start to promote "flight-free days" on a global scale, beginning in the UK and Europe. We could start with a voluntary pledge. I praise the efforts of our Liberal Democrats in Parliament to be part of the "Greenest Government Ever". Nevertheless, I think our Party in Government should do more to tackle climate change.

The consequences of climate change include more floods, heatwaves and storms. These severe weather disturbances do nothing to enhance our civil liberties, plus they add to global food and water shortages. Our fundamental liberal values depend on us having a planet that supports each generation and environmental policies that are truly sustainable. Moreover, scientists are now predicting a higher rate of temperature increase than previously indicated. I would like the Lib Dems to have policies that make our children know we were the most effective political party in the UK when it came to combating climate change. My three teenagers have only ever flown on an airplane once. I can count on one hand the number of times in my lifetime I have chosen air travel for business or pleasure. Yes, I would fly to Aberdeen, from Manchester, if my father who lives there needed me urgently. If this happens - I would expect the price to be much higher than the alternative more time consuming but lower carbon forms of transport, such as the train. Currently the price and speed of air travel is set to encourage me to choose an airplane for every visit.

Last December the Kyoto climate protocol was replaced by a new model in Doha, Qatar. Since the Kyoto protocol was constructed 15 years ago, greenhouse gases have risen relentlessly. Scientific authorities warn that on current trends the Earth is, at best estimate, likely to exceed the 2C temperature rise agreed as a limit by all governments. Some think the climate will heat by as much as 6C. The Doha conference did however take a small step towards acknowledging that rich nations have an obligation to compensate poor nations which suffer irreparable damage from climatic change.

Jane Brophy is a Trafford Councillor representing Timperley ward. She is a North West Liberal Democrat candidate for 2014 European elections

International Aviation and Maritime Emissions in a Copenhagen (post 2012) Agreement, AEA/Qinetiq for DfT, September 2009 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110618235102/http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/international-aviation-and-maritime-emissions-post-copenhagen-2012-agreement

Greenhouse gas emissions by transport mode, DfT, October 2011: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110617022541/http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/measuring-and-reporting-greenhouse-gas-emissions

Lib Dem Voice Survey: http://www.libdemvoice.org/lib-dem-survey-third-heathrow-runway-and-increased-aviation-capacity-30356.html

from Challenge Magazine Spring 2013

Note: In November 2015 Jane Brophy was selected as LibDem candidate in Oldham West and Royton bye-election to be held on Thursday 3rd December 2015