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No Airport Expansion! is a campaign group that aims to provide a rallying point for the many local groups campaigning against airport expansion projects throughout the UK.

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Climate Change News

Below are news items on climate change – many with relevance to aviation

Cancún climate change summit: The deal so far

Date added: 11 December, 2010

The Cancun talks have almost ended, and there may be a Cancun Accord, which approves a "green fund" for developing countries and gives recognition to the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrial countries by 25 - 40% from 1990 levels within the next 10 years. Current pledges amount to about 16%. It is still a relatively weak deal, which does not produce the ambitious, legally binding cuts in emissions that are necessary.

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UN chief, Ban Ki Moon, urges climate deal at Cancun, warning nature ‘will not wait’

Date added: 8 December, 2010

Saying the planet's future is at risk, Ban Ki Moon tried to revive stalled climate talks by urging world leaders to agree to steps - however imperfect - to fight climate change. "We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good," Ban told delegates from 193 nations gathered in Cancun.    Rich and poor nations have been split on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental ministers are interested in setting up a "green fund" of $100 billion by 2020.

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CCC: UK should commit to a 60% cut in emissions by 2030 as a contribution to global efforts to combat climate change

Date added: 7 December, 2010

The Committee on Climate Change  has recommended a Carbon Budget for 2023-27 and a target for emissions reductions in 2030 – halfway between now and 2050.  The recommended target for 2030, to cut emissions by 60% relative to 1990 levels (46% relative to current levels), would then require a 62% emissions reduction from 2030 to meet the 2050 target in the Climate Change Act.  The Carbon Budget says international aviation and shipping should be included, and it is vital that UK aviation emissions in 2050 are no higher than in 2005.   Also that, as technologies to cut aviation emissions are not readily available, other sectors of the economy will need to cut by 85% in 2050 in order to let aviation grow by 60%.

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COP16: new additions to draft text on bunker fuels

Date added: 4 December, 2010

8% of global economic activity depends on aviation transporting 40% of total freight value. 4.9% of anthropogenic CO2 is caused by aviation. Regulating emissions from maritime and air transport could perhaps generate climate finance for developing countries. There is the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, and the problem of carbon leakage to unregulated countries. ICAO needs to be more effective in geting cuts in emissions.

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Thousands of climate campaigners march in London for a Zero Carbon Britain by 2030

Date added: 4 December, 2010

Thousands of campaigners marched on Parliament demanding  CO2 emissions  are slashed to help prevent climate catastrophe, while UN delegates are meeting in Cancun, to hammer out a deal to cut global warming.  Hundreds in Hyde Park formed themselves into a "2030" with a giant zero - the date by which campaigners want a 'Zero Carbon Britain'. The rally after the march urged the coalition Government to take strong action to decarbonise the economy and create a million green jobs.  

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Greenhouse gases at record levels: UN agency. CO2 at 387 ppm in October at Mauna Loa

Date added: 26 November, 2010

Concentrations of the main greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached their highest level since pre-industrial times, according to the World Meteorological Organization.   Concentrations of the gases continued to build up in 2009 - the latest year of observations - despite the economic slowdown. CO2 was 387 ppm in October at Mauna Loa.   Globally averaged nitrous oxide in 2009 was 19% higher, at 322.5 parts per billion, than the pre-industrial  era.    

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2010 on course to be joint hottest year with 1998 since 1850

Date added: 25 November, 2010

This year likely to match 1998 temperatures as UN scientists predict more floods, heatwaves and rising sea levels.   2010 is so far  tied for the hottest year in a record dating back to 1850 in a new sign of a warming trend.   Expectations for Cancun are no longer for a comprehensive deal to slow warming, but only smaller progress.    Temperatures are now about 0.8C above pre-industrial levels, and 2010 is about 0.5C above the 1961-1990 average, near the record, with  2 months' data still to collect.

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Global carbon emissions in 2010 set to be highest in history – and accelerating

Date added: 22 November, 2010

Emissions of man-made CO2 in the atmosphere are roaring ahead again after a smaller-than-expected dip due to the worldwide recession. Scientists forecast that CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels will reach their highest ever this year, and are accelerating. CO2 emissions fell only 1.3% in 2009 as more coal was burnt, and will probably rise 3% this year. National attempts to stabilise CO2 have been too feeble to have any noticeable impact on global emissions.

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New call by UN body for carbon charges on aviation and shipping

Date added: 21 November, 2010

A UN body set up after the Copenhagen summit has recommended increased taxes on carbon emissions and air and sea transport with the aim of raising $100 billion a year to help poorer nations fight global warming. The group is led by the prime ministers of Norway and Ethiopia. It said carbon emission taxes must be used as a deterrent to producing greenhouse gases and to raise money so the developing nations can play their part in fighting climate change. (T&E)

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UN Assembly (ICAO) fails to deliver on cutting aviation’s carbon emissions

Date added: 12 October, 2010

The ICAO assembly, held every 3 years, has ended - and failed to deliver on the 3 counts of more ambitious goals; developing a framework for market-based measures (deferred to 2013), and looking at ways to provide assistance to developing countries. They have agreed to strive towards the achievement of no net increase in international aviation emissions from 2020 (a goal put forward by industry) in a text that is littered with reservations from key countries. In that period, emissions are set to grow by over 40%. (AEF)

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