Air Travel and Consumerism News
Below are links to stories relating to air travel and consumerism.
In 2009 £32.3 billion was spent by UK consumers on holidays – just over £10 per person per week.
Holidays are now seen as a ‘luxury’ item of spending by almost half of adults, which compares to just 38% having this view before the recession in 2007. Today, less than one in five adults see holidays as a ‘necessary spend’ or a ‘right’. However, Mintel’s research forecasts that in the coming five years, the market will return to a more ‘normal’ balance, with overseas holidays and short breaks growing at the expense of domestic holidays and longer holidays.
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Prince Charles blames world’s ills on ‘soulless consumerism’ and Galileo
Prince Charles said, in a speech to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (of which he is patron) said that the West had been been "de-souled" by consumerism. He believed "green technology" alone could not resolve the world’s environmental problems but the West must do something about its "deep, inner crisis of the soul". The world's population is growing by 75 million per year, and is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, with growing desire to consume.
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Monbiot on UK’s real carbon emissions – the outsourced carbon from consumption
The UK government claims that our total emissions amount to 627 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e. the real total (using 2007 figures) should be 950Mt. The government artificially excludes the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the goods we import and the international travel we commission. In 2009 add 7Mt for international shipping, 67Mt for international aviation, 2Mt extra greenhouse warming (not CO2) from domestic flights amd 40Mt net CO2 from holidays abroad.
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The end of consumerism: Our way of life is ‘not viable’ says Worldwatch
A report from the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute, entitled "State of the World 2010" says we in the West will need to make sacrifices and changes to our way of life if we are to survive climate change. The report says wholesale transformation of dominant cultural patterns are needed, which include rejecting consumerism... and establish in its place a new cultural framework centred on sustainability. Changes to travel - and plane travel are needed.
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Consumer Hell – How do we break a system which now permeates every aspect of our lives?
"All the evidence shows that beyond the sort of standard of living which Britain has now achieved, extra growth does not automatically translate into human welfare and happiness" said Lord Turner. Progress is measured by the speed at which we destroy the conditions which sustain life. Governments are deemed to succeed by how well they make money go round, regardless of useful purpose. We are immersed in a consumer ethos. So how do we break this system?
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Low Cost Carriers creating no-frills model of consumerism
The proliferating low-cost carriers are signaling the rise of a "no-frills" model where competition isn’t just restricted to fares but also for the discretionary spending of consumers. Fares are low enough to mean someone can choose between a dinner out, or a new mobile phone, or to travel. Airlines increasingly make their money on selling non-travel products, such as hotels an car hire. Buying aircraft tickets is like any other bought commodity.
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Coughing up before taking off – Airport Terminal shopping
With the addition of T5, Heathrow is now home to more than 500 shops, while Gatwick, which is currently refurbishing its South Terminal, has started to attract cooler brands such as All Saints. BAA says passengers can choose from cutting-edge brands they might find on the high street but at airport prices. A retain expert says customers are getting the "brand experience." You get the service and the branded bag - that adds a certain glamour. (Metro)
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Christmas dinners that cost the Earth
Academics from the University of Manchester have worked out that tasty Christmas dinners in the UK will cost the carbon equivalent of 6,000 car journeys around the world. The Soil Association have announced a crack down on the casual flying of out of season produce from the developing world. (Soil Association)
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IPPR: ‘Put green warnings on adverts for flights’
Ads for flights, holidays and cars should carry tobacco-style health warnings to combat the public's "addiction" to polluting transport and reduce climate change, the think-tank IPPR recommended. They also said carbon offsetting charges should be included in fares as part of radical efforts to cut CO2 emissions.
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Michael McCarthy: Low-carbon consumerism – a new ethical choice
Virtually everything we wear, sit on, clean with, heat with or eat contains embedded carbon - which can be reduced if the manufacturing companies concerned try hard enough. Looking at the emissions from the goods we buy, and services we use, shows just how much a part we as individuals could play in cutting emissions by the purchasing choices we make. Out of the approx 11 tonnes CO2 produced by each person in the UK each year, aviation is about 0.68 tonnes.