Climate Change News
Below are news items on climate change – many with relevance to aviation
“Greenwash Earth” gives Luton airport its “Greenwasher of the Month” award for its expansion carbon claims
There are a lot of contenders for a "greenwashing" award, with many in the aviation sector. Now the group, Greenwash Earth has awarded its gong of "Greenwasher of the Month" to Luton airport for its crazy claims. They won the award for claiming they can develop a "sustainable" airport. The term "sustainable" used to mean something, when first introduced 20 or so years ago - but has now been debased into meaninglessness. Luton claims increasing the capacity of the airport to 32 million passengers per year, by building a new terminal and making the best use of the existing runway, will somehow be "sustainable" and not emit any more carbon. It is nonsensical to pretend that more flights will not raise carbon emissions, and make it harder for the UK to meet climate targets, or for the earth not to heat more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Greenwash Earth say there is similar nonsense being promoted by other airports, such as Bristol and Heathrow.
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Airbus hoping to have a “green” hydrogen-fuelled test flight “in a few years”
There are huge technical problems for the aviation industry, in trying to fly commercial airliners on hydrogen. Some are that hydrogen is a tiny molecule, and needs very strong, heavy tanks to keep it in; it has to be compressed and kept cold, and needs large tanks. But now Airbus says it has signed a partnership agreement with CFM International, to try to produce a hydrogen demonstration programme, hoping to manage a test flights "in the new few years." The demonstration will use an A380 flying testbed. It is hoped that the technology can be used "to assist with zero-emission flights by 2035." Airbus first produced futuristic concept designs for a hydrogen- fuelled plane in 2020. At the time, Airbus hoped they could operate commercial hydrogen-powered flights by 2035. Of course, Airbus wants a lot of government investment (ie. taxpayer money) to increase the production of hydrogen and create hydrogen transport and refuelling systems. Hydrogen could only be a low-carbon jet fuel if it is produced entirely using low-carbon electricity. There are many other more important demands on renewably generated electricity. Under 1% of the hydrogen produced in 2019 was made using 100% renewably-powered processes.
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Reply to a Parliamentary Question shows during 18 months of Covid, around 15,000 “ghost flights” flew from UK airports
It has been difficult to obtain the data, from airlines, of the number of flights they operate that have no passengers, or are under 10% capacity. These are termed ghost flights, and are a terrible unnecessary source of carbon emissions. Now MP Alex Sobel has asked a parliamentary question, replied to by Robert Courts (Aviation Minister), giving some recent date for the UK. The responses, through the DfT and CAA, was that almost 15,000 “ghost flights” took off from the 32 UK airports between March 2020 and September 2021. Heathrow was top, with 4,910 ghost flights in that 18 month period. Manchester and Gatwick were the next highest. There were an average of 760 ghost flights a month over the period, although the data covered only international departure and not domestic flights. During the pandemic the slot use rules that had required 80% of slots to be used were completely suspended. Airlines did not have to operate flights to retain the slots, but nonetheless flew about 14,470 ghost flights. This was partly as demand for flying was so low, planes flew with just a handful of passengers.
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Car and airline adverts helped produce something like 200-600 million tonnes CO2 per year due to increased sales
New research by Greenpeace and the New Weather Institute reveals the extent of the climate impacts from cars and airline adverts. Of course, advertising increases demand and therefore carries a climate and ecological impact associated with the greater purchase and use of the advertised products. The research has tried to work out the amount of money companies make from the higher sales, against the extra carbon produced. A report by the Purpose Disruptors group, ‘Advertised Emissions: the carbon emissions generated by UK advertising’, used a similar reasoning to measure the CO2 emissions (estimated at 186 million tonnes CO2 equivalent for 2019) associated with the increased spend driven by advertising activities in the UK. They say at a global level, car advertising could be responsible for some 570 million tonnes of CO2 (ie. 27 million tonnes higher than Australia’s entire GHG emissions in 2019). Airline advertising globally, which has a lower climate impact than car ads, may be associated with about 34 million tonnes of CO2 - a bit less than all UK annual aviation emissions, pre-Covid.
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ICAO contemplates tougher emissions standards on CO2 and noise for aircraft
UN aviation experts at ICAO are again discussing toughening emissions standards for commercial aircraft, less than six years before a previously agreed standard takes effect. Support for a new emissions standard could put pressure on plane-makers, which need years to adapt to rule changes due to long production cycles, to cease producing their least efficient models. Some ICAO member countries back the introduction of more stringent standards. One source said ICAO's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) agreed to draft new standards. However, it is not clear when these might come into force - it is hoped before 2025 - nor how tough the standards would be. ICAO is seeking broad agreement this year on a long-term aviation carbon reduction goal, but there are differences with countries such as China (with a young, growing aviation sector) not enthusiastic. ICAO's governing council has already backed emissions rules for new planes, with a cut-off date of 2028 for planes that do not comply with the standard, unless exempted.
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Campaigners label Heathrow’s new “Sustainability” strategy as “patently underwhelming” in its ambitions, or plans for action
Heathrow has announced its updated environmental "sustainability" strategy, called "Heathrow 2.0: Connecting People and Planet". It wants to do a bit to encourage wildlife near the airport (not birds of course, as they get killed or deterred for safety ...) and get airlines to use allegedly "sustainable aviation fuel" (SAF). Lots of hope .... The "elephant in the room" of their rising carbon emissions from flights, is not properly addressed. Local campaign, the No 3rd Runway Coalition, consider the strategy to be "patently underwhelming" and the "goals to reduce emissions are pifflingly small..." Heathrow has unrealistic hopes of "decarbonising" flights, and also "improving the area around the airport for those who live and work in it’. Heathrow wants to cut "at least 45% of on the ground emissions" which make up about 5% of the total. The increased use of SAF, which is only available in tiny amounts, would need government assistance, says Heathrow. Stop Heathrow Expansion says the plan ‘does not deliver for communities around the airport’ and does not offer any real commitments to end ‘highly disruptive night flights’ , instead of better restrictions on flights between 11pm and 7am.
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Leeds Bradford airport public inquiry to start 13th September – GALBA crowdfunding for £100,000 for the fight
On 19th January 2022, Michael Gove (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) granted GALBA's request to hold a public inquiry into Leeds Bradford airport's expansion plans. It will start on 13th September 2022. GALBA has gone into full-on preparation mode for fundraising. They hope to raise £100,000 through a crowdfunder, to pay for legal advice and experts to give evidence to the public inquiry. The planning inspectors will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State whether or not to allow the airport to expand. GALBA has described the public inquiry into LBA's expansion plans as a 'real life David vs Goliath battle'. Chris Foren, chair of GALBA, said: "The airport is owned by an Australian based multinational corporation which can literally spend millions on lawyers if it wants to. GALBA is just a group of concerned citizens - no one is paid, everyone involved does it because they care deeply about our communities and our climate. So it will be a real life David vs Goliath battle at the inquiry. ... the future of our planet depends on struggles like this - people power really can make a difference! If we all work together, we can build a better future for our children and grandchildren."
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Luton Airport consultation about expansion plans, to increase to 32 million annual passengers
Luton airport has started another public consultation (ends 4th April) on further expansion plans. It now wants to increase its annual number of passengers (from 18.2 million in 2019) to 32 million (mppa). The proposals by the airport owner Luton Rising [the new name the company that owns Luton airport has started using] involve expanding the existing terminal, building a 2nd terminal and making "best use" [ie. more use] of the existing runway. At the start of December 2021, Luton council, which conveniently owns the airport, gave it permission to increase from 18 to 19 mppa. If approved, the Phase 1 would be expansion of Terminal 1 and associated facilities to increase capacity to approximately 21.5 mppa. Phase 2 would involve construction of new Terminal 2 and associated facilities to increase airport capacity to 27 mppa. Then a later further phase would be more expansion of Terminal 2, to increase to 32 mppa. Opponents of the airport's growth say the latest consultation is "a huge waste of public money". The level of aircraft noise in 2019 was severe, and residents are horrified of it becoming even worse - as well as the local congestion etc. It makes no sense to encourage aviation expansion, when the UK must cut its carbon emissions, fast.
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NEF analysis suggests huge future costs to taxpayer of Southampton airport and its flights
New analysis by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) has calculated the cost to society of the carbon emissions generated by UK aviation, and UK airports. These are the costs of the impacts of an altered climate, on infrastructure, extremes of weather, water and energy etc. NEF has used the new carbon values, set out by the government in September 2021. Instead of costing the societal damage done by 1 tonne of carbon at a bit of £70, the price has been put at between a low of £124 to £240 as a medium price, for 2022. Those numbers rise steeply up to 2050 (prices after that have not been considered). That means most airport expansion schemes, including Southampton's, are likely not to be viable, and the economics need to be re-calculated. For Southampton, NEF says that just looking at the 2021 prices, the carbon cost to society would not be £421 million (2025 - 2050) by more like £921. And of the £921 only £212 million would be paid in traded emissions. That leaves £742 which would be the cost to the taxpayer - as the cost of an expanded Southampton airport, with more flights and more passengers.
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Bristol local campaigners feel betrayed by Bristol Airport approval by the Planning Inspectorate
Despite huge opposition to the plans to expand Bristol airport, from a cap of 10 million annual passengers to 12 million, the plan was approved by the Planning Inspectorate on 2nd February, after an appeal by the airport to refusal by North Somerset Council. Residents and campaigners say that this decision flies in the face of the evidence that was presented to the inquiry by climate experts and local residents. It means about 20,000 more annual flights. It also makes a mockery of the planning decision taken locally by North Somerset Council and the expressed opinions of the local MPs and surrounding councils. The voices of some 8,900 people who objected in writing to the proposals and the many thousands more who marched in solidarity against the plans has also been ignored in what is a terrible blow to local democracy and accountability. The expansion would result in hugely more CO2 (at a time of climate crisis), more noise, more car journeys and road congestion. Stephen Clarke from Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN) said: " It means that the airport and the planning inspectorate have totally ignored the climate crisis we are currently in."