GOVERNMENT proposals to ensure the growing aviation industry remains 'sustainable' require a reduction in the number of flights, a moratorium on runway-building, and a revolution in the way aviation is taxed, according to London Euro-MP Jean Lambert.
"The
current review of industry's call for more runways in the South East offers the
Government an opportunity to develop a truly sustainable national aviation policy,
based on the economic, environmental and social needs of the population in general
- not just the aviation industry," said
Mrs Lambert.
Mrs Lambert, London's Green MEP, made her comments as she submitted a joint response with Green London Assembly Members and the London Federation of Green Parties to the Government's consultation on the future of air travel in the UK, which formally ended today (June 30).
The government claims demand for air travel will increase from 180 million passenger journeys each year to around 400 million in 20 years time, requiring four new airports the size of Heathrow or eight the size of Gatwick.
It then details a number of options for new runways around London to meet this projected demand, including a third runway at Heathrow, three new runways at Stansted, new runways at Luton and a new 'hub' airport on the Thames Estuary at Cliffe in Kent.
"This consultation just doesn't make sense: on the one hand it states its aim as ensuring the long-term development of aviation is sustainable, one the other it advocates following the now discredited predict-and-provide model long abandoned as a rationale for road-building," said Mrs Lambert.
"The proposals make neither economic nor environmental sense and are not in the interests of Londoners but serve only the interests of the aviation industry.
"If this Government is serious about sustainable development and putting the interests of Londoners over those of big business, it must seize this opportunity to limit the economic, environment and social damage inflicted by the aviation industry by managing demand for flying, developing viable alternatives and making airlines pay their way."
Mrs Lambert's response to the Government consultation sets out the essential elements of a sustainable aviation policy:
No new runways
Rejection of unsustainable growth rates for air travel
Including aviation emissions in the UK's overall CO2 reduction commitments
Ensuring the industry pays for its impact on health and the environment through measures including emissions charges, a noise levy and an end to public subsidies and tax exemptions
Fixed limits to airport 'sprawl' development and traffic congestion around airports
Support for less environmentally damaging alternatives, such as rail travel
"Hardly a day goes by without Londoners facing another systemic failure in their tube or rail services - and yet the Government makes an annual tax-free gift of almost £180 for every man, woman and child in the country to the aviation industry," she added.
"The
people of London don't want new runways concreting over the green belt and clogging
up the roads and the skies. They want a sustainable transport system that meets
their needs without costing the earth - and the Government must ensure it listens
to them and not just its friends and
financial donors in the aviation industry."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Download background briefing on the economic downside of the aviation industry
To request an interview with Mrs Lambert, contact Ben Duncan.
The Government's proposals for airport expansion can be found at www.airconsult.gov.uk
For
more information please contact Ben Duncan on 020 7407 6280, 07973 823358 or at
press@greenmeps.org.uk