Ecologists ask to ban short flights, penalize the richest frequent travelers and promote the train

Ecologists in Action has called for the reduction of air traffic, eliminating flights on short journeys, penalizing the richest frequent travelers, promoting transport alternatives such as the train and eliminating what it considers a system of privileges to the air sector, to reduce CO emissions₂ of aviation.

The NGO has presented on Tuesday its report ‘Degrowth of aviation: the reduction of air transport in a fair way’, which analyzes the impact of aviation at a global level that considers that CO emissions₂ of this means of transport could be multiplied by eight by the year 2050, since it ensures that aviation is currently the only means of transport whose greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow.

Therefore, he concludes that the “only way” to reduce the impact of the sector is to significantly reduce the number of flights. The study, prepared by the international network Stay Grounded, of which Ecologists in Action is a part, analyzes the environmental and social effects of aviation that until now were not systematized and proposes several measures to reduce the number of flights.

The organization assures that aviation generates between 5 and 8 percent of total _CO2 emissions worldwide although the sector assures “repeatedly” that they barely represent 2 percent with global emissions. In addition to carbon dioxide, airplanes also emit other harmful elements such as methane, ozone, soot, contrails and induced cloudiness, which has an even greater climate impact than _CO2.

Specifically, Ecologists in Action considers necessary measures such as reducing air traffic, through the prohibition of long-proximity flights, reducing short- and medium-distance flights by train or the moratorium on the expansion or construction of airport infrastructures.

Another of his proposals is to eliminate the “system of aviation privileges” that puts other more sustainable forms of transport at a disadvantage. In that sense, it denounces that the low prices of flights are due to the numerous tax exemptions around the world and, especially in the EU.

It also calls for “curbing the favourable treatment of airlines” through the introduction of a kerosene tax, a VAT equal to that of other means of transport, establishing a carbon tax and creating a tax on tickets based on the distance traveled.

It also calls for “penalizing frequent travelers with more resources” because they say aviation is “an elitist medium,” since less than 10 percent of the world’s population has ever taken resources. However, the emissions generated are suffered by the planet as a whole.

Therefore, it proposes to put a tax on frequent travelers or a fee for kilometers traveled. The first would progressively increase the price of tickets purchased by the same person during a certain time and the second does so depending on the distance traveled.

The fourth of the measures would be to promote alternatives to the plane, especially with an investment in railway infrastructure. The report regrets the dismantling of the night train network in Europe in recent years and calls for the recovery of these trains and the improvement of international booking systems in order to reduce train ticket prices and encourage coordination in train transfers.

The head of aviation of Ecologists in Action, Pablo Muñoz, believes that in the face of the inaction of governments and the disinterest of the industry, a rigorous and far-reaching debate should be stimulated that promotes the implementation of clear and ambitious policies for the degrowth of aviation. For this reason, he has announced that the NGO will develop in the coming months the campaign ‘Stay on Earth’.

Source: The Vanguard