Representation by Martin Heath
- Date submitted
- 15 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
In a normal year aviation accounts of 7-8% of the UK's greenhouse gas emission. These emissions have grown by over 80% since 1990. We should be reducing these emissions not increasing them. The vast majority of flights are taken a small minority; to the disbenefit of the majority. Flying causes further climate change. Parts of the UK already have unacceptable levels of air pollution. Increases in flights will make this worse. Many of the flights taken are unnecessary; and could either not be taken at all, or replaced by train, bus or ferry trips. There is no reasonable probability that aviation can be de-carbonised before 2050. At best, growing the crops required for “sustainable aviation fuel” (SAF) will have a devastating impact on land use, food production and biodiversity. Sustainable aviation fuel is an oxymoron and a myth. If we are to meet our 2050 targets then aviation emissions must be reduced significantly. Building additional runways will make this target even more difficult to reach.