Aviation Sector ‘Needs New Climate Targets’

The British Government’s official climate advisers, the Climate Change Committee have called for tougher restrictions on emissions in the aviation sector.

They claim that in order for the aviation sector to continue to grow in Britain, the rest of the economy would have to face a 90% cut of emissions by 2050. This would mean much larger cuts that the 80% reduction on 1990 levels that is planned for British industry and households.

The Climate Change Committee say that a new deal must also be made at the Copenhagen climate talks in December to cap global aviation emissions. They claim that emissions from planes in UK must be no more than the 2005 level by 2050, which is much more lenient than other sectors facing an 80% cut.

The 90% target is thought to be so out of reach, that it might be easier to go straight to zero carbon emissions rather than making small reductions year by year. Some analysts believe this approach might work out cheaper than trying to reach a 90% cut.

From BBC News:
The Climate Change Committee’s advise that:

• All CO2 emissions from aviation should be capped, either through a global aviation deal or by including international aviation emissions in national emission reduction targets
• Any international agreement to reduce emissions should be no less than the European Union’s target of a 5% reduction in net emissions from 2013-2020
• Emissions allowances for aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme, says the CCC, should be fully auctioned to prevent windfall profits for airlines
• Funds should be found for radical innovation in engine, airframe and fuel technology
• Additional non-CO2 gases from aviation are contributing to global warming. The effects of these should be addressed within a global deal on aviation