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Network to Counter Aviation – For a Just Transport System
Updated: 2 days 20 hours ago

Jornadas de Reflexión para Permanecer en la Tierra

Mon, 03/25/2024 - 07:10

Un espacio de diálogo, análisis y construcción de alternativas ante los impactos de la industria del transporte aéreo, organizado por la red regional de Latinoamérica y el Caribe de Stay Grounded – “Permanecer en la Tierra”.

Quintana Roo, México. Inició la Jornada de Reflexión sobre la aviación y la expansión aeroportuaria convocada por Permanecer en la Tierra, red regional Latinoamérica y Caribe (LAC) que es parte de la red mundial Stay Grounded.

El pasado 29 de febrero de 2024, a través de un foro virtual, iniciaron las reflexiones en torno a temas de gran relevancia para el territorio latinoaméricano y caribeño, relacionado con la aviación y sus profundos impactos ecológicos, sociales y culturales.

El primer tema de reflexión fue: la aviación y el turismo, escenarios de Latinoamérica y el Caribe; que fue abordado por Luis Rodolfo Olivares Franco miembro del Seminario de Estudios Urbanos Críticos (SEUC) de Geografía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Matilde Córdoba Azcárate, profesora Asociada Universidad de San Diego, California y Daniela Subtil, coordinadora de la Red Mundial Stay Grounded.

La Jornada de Reflexión presentó análisis académicos sobre la situación particular de la península de Yucatán en México, atravesada por la industria turística desde 1974 con la creación de Cancún como proyecto de desarrollo de turismo masivo.

Una de las reflexiones de Matilde Córdoba Azcárate fue la siguiente: “El desarrollo turístico es una continuación de maneras de operar extractivistas, que no son nuevas, pero sí son nuevas en el tipo de impactos a nivel ecológico y también a nivel sociopolítico. Este tipo de turismo extractivo implica el despojo de tierras, el cercamiento de espacios comunes y recursos, la mercantilización de modos de vida, procesos civilizatorios y de aculturación, de lenguaje, de visión,, de ideología de parentesco y género, de maneras de organizar la casa. Ha implicado el silenciamiento y alienación de otros futuros posibles.

Este conversatorio de la Jornada de Reflexión se encuentra en el canal de YouTube de Stay Grounded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyjrVGuhm1w

También está disponible en la página de Facebook de Permanecer en la Tierra:  https://web.facebook.com/61555323617123/videos/1177458026576792

Les invitamos a participar en las siguiente sesiones de la Jornada de Reflexión con temas que son de gran importancia por el impacto en la vida de los pueblos indígenas, urbanos, rurales, campesinos y para todes quienes habitan el territorio tan diverso y bello de Latinoamérica y el Caribe:

2. Conflictos territoriales y expansión aeroportuaria en Latinoamérica y el Caribe
3. Militarización e infraestructura aeroportuaria: análisis de la geopolítica en Latinoamérica y el Caribe
4. Tren Maya y Corredor Interoceánico: El reordenamiento territorial del sur-sureste de México y Centroamérica
5. Construcción de alternativas para permanecer en la tierra desde Latinoamérica y el Caribe

Para participar, regístrate, por favor, en la siguiente liga: https://es.stay-grounded.org/permanecer-en-la-tierra-jornadas-reflexion/

Der Beitrag Jornadas de Reflexión para Permanecer en la Tierra erschien zuerst auf Stay Grounded.

Categories: G1. Progressive Green

Two court victories on Schiphol airport and KLM airline!

Thu, 03/21/2024 - 07:48

Press Release on March 20th 2024 – Today, a historic verdict ruled that Schiphol Amsterdam airport has to reduce its flights to a maximum of 400,000 a year. Yesterday, another court ruled that the Dutch airline KLM has misled customers with its green claims. These victories against corporate polluters are a result of growing citizen’s campaigns in the Netherlands and beyond. Last week, hundreds of people in France protested for a cap on flights at airports.

Magdalena Heuwieser, spokesperson for the Stay Grounded network, says: “This win at Schiphol sets a precedent for airports globally. If we want to take resident’s health and the looming climate breakdown seriously, we have to cap flights at airports. It is an illusion to believe that new technology and fuel substitutes are the main answer to climate, air quality and noise problems. Yesterday’s ruling on KLM greenwashing is further proof that we cannot trust the industry’s sustainability claims. We have to build pressure for real climate solutions, and Schiphol shows that they are possible.

Press Contact:
Magdalena Heuwieser, press@stay-grounded.org, +436703534311
We can also provide direct contacts to campaigners and activists in the Netherlands.

Notes for Editors:

 

Der Beitrag Two court victories on Schiphol airport and KLM airline! erschien zuerst auf Stay Grounded.

Categories: G1. Progressive Green

Upcoming actions demand flight caps for Europe’s 5 largest airports

Tue, 03/12/2024 - 00:00
  • 25 organisations are calling on the EU and governments across Europe to cap air traffic
  • The coalition of groups have published tribune ahead of two days of action in France and other European countries
  • The organisations are local residents groups and climate activists campaigning against the five largest airports in Europe: Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow, Madrid Barajas, Frankfurt Airport, and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
  • Twenty mobilisations will take place in France on March 13 2024 to demand the Minister of Transport caps air traffic


 

March 12th – Residents groups and climate activists are calling on the EU and governments across Europe to cap air traffic as part of two days of action across Europe.

25 groups campaigning against Europe’s five largest airports have released a tribune calling for a capping of flights at airports, aerodromes and heliports below the 2019 level, in line with the historic decision taken at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

The tribune has been released ahead of two days of action taking place on 13th and 15th March. The groups are local residents groups and climate activists campaigning against the five largest airports in Europe: Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow, Madrid Barajas, Frankfurt Airport, and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Research has shown these five airports emit more than the whole of Sweden.

Twenty mobilisations will take place in France on March 13 2024 to demand the Minister of Transport caps air traffic. Following local actions, the associations will meet in Paris for a meeting at the Ministry of Transport on March 15th – an appointment confirmed by the minister’s office – which will be followed by a humorous musical event and speeches at 12:30 p.m. Actions will also be held in other European countries.

In the tribune, the groups also call for stronger curfews to be put in place at European airports.

The tribune states: “We, the victims of airport nuisance and present and future victims of global warming, call on our governments and on Europe to follow the necessary path opened up by the Netherlands by finally taking concrete measures: limiting and reducing the number of flights while ensuring that noise, air pollution and CO2 emissions are also brought down – and generalising curfews at airports, aerodromes and heliports.”

According to predictions from the aviation industry we could see air traffic levels double by 2040. This would hugely threaten both the climate and the health of local residents.

Aviation is the fastest way to fry the planet“, says Magdalena Heuwieser, spokesperson from the Stay Grounded network. “Taking one flight generates more emissions than many people around the world emit in an entire year. We need to urgently cap flights at airport level. The attempts at Schiphol airport to reduce the amount of flights and ban private jets and night flights need to be applied in Paris and other airports“, she concludes.

PRESS CONTACT:

Lounes Dupeux, Stay Grounded, +33 6 11 67 96 40, lounes@stay-grounded.org

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

  • The tribune and actions have been organised by UFCNA and Stay Grounded. Read the full tribune here: https://stay-grounded.org/capping-air-traffic-an-emergency-response-for-health-and-climate/
  • Stay Grounded is a network for 215 member initiatives around the world, including community groups surrounding airports, NGOs, and trade unions. The network campaigns for a fair reduction of aviation and for a just mobility system that works for all, now and in the future.
  • The UFCNA, French Union Against Aircraft Nuisances, is a national organisation which brings together the main French associations for the defence of the environment, protection of the quality of life and health of residents near airports.
  • Mobilisations in France from March 13th and 15th:
    • List of cities where actions are taking place: Nice, Cannes-Mandelieu, Marseille, Lille, Beauvais, Bordeaux, Roissy, Orly, Toussus-le-Noble, Pontoise, Toulouse, Montpellier, Nantes, Aix-en-Provence, Saint-Etienne, Caen, Basel -Mulhouse, Rhône-Alpes, Villefranche-Beaujolais, Le Mans, as well as Liège!
    • An action for capping of air traffic will be held in Paris on March 15 at 12:30 p.m. in front of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Hôtel de Roquelaure; 246, boulevard Saint-Germain; Paris 7th: https://www.facebook.com/events/925777472614867/

Der Beitrag Upcoming actions demand flight caps for Europe’s 5 largest airports erschien zuerst auf Stay Grounded.

Categories: G1. Progressive Green

Capping air traffic: an emergency response for health and climate!

Mon, 03/11/2024 - 07:03

Over 20 organisations campaigning against the five biggest European airports have published the below tribune calling on national governments and the EU to cap flights and implement stronger curfews at airports across Europe. 

We, the neighbours of Europe’s five largest airports – Paris-CDG, London-Heathrow, Madrid-Barajas, Frankfurt, Amsterdam-Schiphol – call on our governments and Europe to cap all airports, aerodromes and heliports to halt the uncontrolled growth of air traffic. Air traffic has returned to its 2019 level, and if we are to believe the players in the sector, it could double by 2040. This is a disaster when we know that this increase in the number of flights is compatible neither with our climate objectives nor with protecting the health of people affected by noise and air pollution. The scientific studies are clear and leave no room for doubt1. What’s more, there are rail alternatives for many European destinations. Given this situation, clear and determined political choices must be made, as was recently the case for Amsterdam-Schiphol airport. 

The Dutch government and the airport operator have realised that the growth in air traffic is no longer sustainable. They have therefore expressed the wish to reduce the number of flights, introduce a curfew, ban private aviation and abandon plans for a new runway. “We can’t ask the people of the region to make sacrifices for years on end for those who fly just for their holidays,” said Ruud Sondag, the airport’s CEO2. Tens of millions of people suffer from aircraft noise and pollution day and night. Noise is a major public health problem, causing sleep disorders, cognitive problems, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease3. In France alone, its social cost has been estimated at €6.1 billion a year. Yet none of Europe’s airports are actually complying with the European directives and regulations that require them to draw up plans to reduce air noise, because noise levels are continuing to rise around airports, as shown by the strategic noise maps.

Every year, air pollution causes more than 250,000 deaths in Europe, and aviation is a significant local contributor. The ultrafine particles emitted by aircraft engines are smaller than those emitted by diesel engines, and therefore way more toxic. But they are neither regulated nor measured. Air pollution from airports remains the forgotten issue in air quality policies.

As far as the climate is concerned, commercial aviation accounts for almost 5% of European CO2 emissions, and almost 7% of those in France4. A study reveals that in 2019, the world’s 20 most polluting airports – including Paris-CDG, London-Heathrow, Frankfurt and Amsterdam-Schiphol – emitted as much CO2 as 58 coal-fired power stations!5 To this must be added the climatic impact of emissions other than carbon dioxide, in particular condensation trails, which at least double the impact of CO2 alone6. Twice as important as it was 30 years ago, the weight of the aviation sector in global emissions is all the more disproportionate given that this mode of transport is still mainly used by a small proportion of the population, mainly for leisure. At a time when Europe and our governments are asking everyone to make an effort, it is hard to understand why air transport should be exempt.

However, if the sector is to play its part in reducing emissions, a reduction in traffic is essential. Neither technological progress nor so-called “sustainable” aviation fuels will be available in sufficient quantities in the time required. Two reports published in January 2024 by Amsterdam Airport Schiphol show that a reduction of at least 30% in its emissions and those of European aviation compared with 2019 is needed by 2030 to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement7. The airport management recognises that there is no other solution in the short and medium term than to halt the growth in air traffic and reduce it rapidly. This would also limit the impact on health. As such a change of course would have an impact on employment, it is essential to take into account the retraining of the workers concerned.

We, the victims of airport nuisance and present and future victims of global warming, call on our governments and on Europe to follow the necessary path opened up by the Netherlands by finally taking concrete measures: limiting and reducing the number of flights while ensuring that noise, air pollution and CO2 emissions are also brought down – and generalising curfews at airports, aerodromes and heliports.

Signatory collectives and associations:

Paris-CDG:

  • ADVOCNAR
  • GARE
  • Collectif Non au T4
  • UFCNA Union Française contre les Nuisances des Aéronefs

London-Heathrow: 

  • HACAN Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise
  • Stay Grounded United Kingdom
  • Flight Free UK
  • South-West Essex Fight the Flights

Frankfurt-Main: 

  • BBI-Bündnis der Bürgerinitiativen im Rhein-Main-Gebiet – gegen Flughafenausbau – für eine Nachtflugverbot von 22 Uhr-6 Uhr

Amsterdam-Schiphol:

  • Schipholwatch
  • Amsterdam Fossielvrij
  • Omgeving Zonder Vlieghinder
  • Platform Vliegoverlast Amsterdam
  • Stichting Mobilisation

Madrid-Barajas:

  • Plataforma contra la ampliación de Barajas
  • Ecologistas en Acción
  • Fridays For Future España
  • Federación Regional de Asociaciones Vecinales de Madrid
  • Asociación Española de Educación Ambiental
  • Asociación Vecinal de Mejorada del Campo
  • Plataforma contra el ruido de San Fernando de Henares
  • Asociación Vecinal Parque Henares
  • Asociación Vecinal Jarama
  • Asociación por la Defensa de Belvis
Notes:
  1. Stay-Grounded/UECNA (2024) : Aviation is a health issue
  2. Schiphol Airport (2023) : Schiphol to be quieter, cleaner and better: night closure, ban on private jets and people first 

  3. Le Monde (2022, French) : Plus de cent professionnels de santé alertent sur le bruit aérien : « C’est l’espérance de vie qui est menacée »

  4. DGAC, Transports Minister: Les émissions gazeuses liées au trafic aérien en France en 2020

  5. Airports, air pollution and climate change | ODI

  6. Stay-Grounded (2022) : It’s about more than just C02 

  7. Schiphol Airport (Jan 2024) : Accelerated CO₂ reduction necessary

Der Beitrag Capping air traffic: an emergency response for health and climate! erschien zuerst auf Stay Grounded.

Categories: G1. Progressive Green

New research showing the significant health issues of air traffic

Thu, 02/22/2024 - 00:58
NEW research shows just 20 airports produced the equivalent CO2 emissions of 58 coal plants
  • Launched today, the 2024 ‘Airport Tracker’ – an update to the first global inventory of CO2 and local air pollutants from passenger and freight flights – shows the scale of aviation emissions at the airport level. The Airport Tracker is supported by research from Stay Grounded and UECNA showing the significant health issues of air traffic.
  • New research shows that the top 20 most polluting airports produced the same amount of dangerous Nitrogen Oxides and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as 31 million passenger cars in 2019.
  • Just 20 airports generated 231 million tonnes of CO2, the same amount as 58 coal plants in 2019, the year for which latest data is available.
  • In 2019 alone, the most polluting airport, Dubai International, produced the same emissions as 5 coal plants.
  • In 2019, London’s six airports generated the same amount of air pollution as 3.23 million cars.

NEW research from global affairs thinktank ODI, in partnership with Transport & Environment and with data provided by the International Council on Clean Transportation, reveals the climate and air quality impacts of 1300 airports. The updated 2024 Airport Tracker, a global inventory of CO2 and air pollution at the airport level, shows the disproportionate climate and health impact of just a small number of airports.

The research found that in 2019, combining impacts of passenger and freight transport, Dubai International Airport produced the equivalent CO2 emissions of 5.03 coal plants, while Heathrow produced the equivalent of 4.77 coal plants. Many cities have multiple airports, multiplying their impact; London’s 6 airports together produced 27 million tonnes of CO2 in 2019 alone and 8,900 tonnes of NOx and 83 tonnes of PM2.5.

ODI’s report is supported by new research from Stay Grounded, a network aimed at reducing air traffic and building a climate-just transport system, and UECNA, an umbrella for airport community groups. Their new report also released today shows significant health consequences of the aviation sector, and outlines steps to counter climate, air and noise pollution. Globally, air pollution is the 4th largest risk factor for human health, killing 6.7 million people in 2019, and in 2018, air pollution had associated economic costs of £166 billion (€193 billion) to the European economy.

This new research draws the aviation sector’s decarbonization strategy into focus, which hedges on a sharp increase in the supply of expensive Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs). Currently, SAFs account for only 0.1% of jet fuel consumption and effective decarbonization would require production increasing from a few hundred million litres today to over 400 billion litres by 2050. Expected efficiency gains from technological advancements are likely to be offset by increased demand as the industry bounces back; in November 2023, demand had already reached 99% of pre-pandemic levels, with growth expected to increase by a further 4.2% per year from 2024 onwards. If current growth trajectories continue and the uptake of clean technologies does not accelerate, emissions generated by airports will boom, putting millions of people at risk.

  • The 2024 Airport Tracker is now live and can be found here
  • For the ODI and T&E full report on emissions at the airport level, see here.
  • For Stay Grounded’s report on health impacts of aviation, see here.

Magdalena Heuwieser, Press Officer from Stay Grounded said “Aircraft noise levels are continuously exceeded, and we completely lack EU standards on ultrafine particles, which are a major health hazard. Some key measures must be taken immediately to protect the health of workers and communities surrounding airports – like night flight bans, or simple jet fuel improvements to have at least the same standards as car fuel. But technology won’t solve the whole problem, a reduction of the number of flights is most effective and needed.”

Shandelle Steadman, Senior Research Officer at ODI said “This research shows the gaps in decarbonizing aviation. Airports aren’t reporting these emissions and often slip under the radar, but without tackling localized emissions at the airport level, the sector’s climate and health impact will only worsen; damaging our health, livelihoods and climate.”

Sam Pickard, Research Associate at ODI, said “Airports are long-term infrastructure, so choices now affect climate and air quality far into the future. More has to be done to recognise these impacts and limit expansion in many parts of the world”

Jo Dardenne, Aviation Director at T&E said “Pollution around airports is growing year on year. It affects millions of people, who breathe in toxic emissions and develop health conditions as a result, yet policy makers are brushing the problem under the carpet. Exponential growth of the sector and airports is incompatible with their climate goals, especially considering the slow uptake of clean technologies. The sector led us to believe that they would bounce back better after the pandemic; they’ve certainly bounced back, but without action, the sector’s climate and health impact isn’t going to get any better”

Press Contact

Magdalena Heuwieser
Email: press(ät)stay-grounded.org
Phone: +43 670 353 43 11

ENDS

About Stay Grounded
Stay Grounded is a network for 215 member initiatives around the world, including community groups surrounding airports, NGOs, and trade unions. The network campaigns for a fair reduction of aviation and for a just mobility system that works for all, now and in the future.

About ODI
ODI is an independent, global affairs think tank. We work to inspire people to act on injustice and inequality. Through research, convening and influencing, we generate ideas that matter for people and planet.

About Transport & Environment
Transport & Environment (T&E), is an European umbrella for non-governmental organisations working in the field of transport and the environment, promoting sustainable transport in Europe. T&E’s vision is a zero-emission mobility system that is affordable and has minimal impacts on our health, climate and environment.

About UECNA
UECNA is the European Union against Aircraft Nuisances, representing airport communities at the EU and at the International Civil Aviation Organisation. It also supports organisations and citizens with expert advice and by exchanging information, experience and best practices.

About the International Council on Clean Transportation
The ICCT is an independent research organization providing first-rate, unbiased research and technical and scientific analysis to environmental regulators. Our mission is to improve the environmental performance and energy efficiency of road, marine, and air transportation, in order to benefit public health and mitigate climate change.

Der Beitrag New research showing the significant health issues of air traffic erschien zuerst auf Stay Grounded.

Categories: G1. Progressive Green

E-CHO industrial biofuel complex in France: so-called sustainable aviation fuels are a false solution

Mon, 01/29/2024 - 00:41

Stay Grounded explained its position on so-called sustainable aviation fuels during the preliminary public consultation on the E-CHO project for an industrial biofuel complex in Lacq (in the South-West of France).
BioTJet, one of the three planned plants, is meant to produce e-biokerosene for aviation from biomass and hydrogen produced on-site using electricity from the grid. The very high need for biomass, mainly from local forests, has led to strong opposition from associations for the protection of forests.
Stay Grounded has stressed that the climate emergency implies preserving forests in their essential roles as carbon sinks and as a source of biodiversity, and that biomass and renewable electricity should be reserved for the decarbonisation of uses more essential for the entire population. The only way to quickly reduce aviation CO2 emissions is to reduce air traffic.

Too little, too late

The aviation sector is basing its decarbonisation strategy on the promises of technology and using them to justify its continued growth. It proffers a range of so-called sustainable solutions. As we demonstrate in our aviation greenwashing fact sheets, “efficiency improvements” have always resulted in increased emissions and so-called sustainable alternative fuels pose too many problems in terms of resources to be deployed quickly and massively. As for hydrogen-powered aircraft and electric aircraft, they will not be operational before 2050 for medium- and long-haul flights, which currently account for the bulk of emissions (CO2 and others).

Even if these technological solutions kept their promises, they would not make it possible to attain carbon neutrality by 2050, as the sector has committed to do, a commitment that is itself insufficient given the slow pace of its decarbonisation plan. According to this plan, aviation CO2 emissions would only start to really decrease from 2035 onwards. However, according to UN projections, keeping global heating below 1.5°C would require a 55% reduction by 2030. While the objectives for 2030 and 2050 are inseparable, the aviation sector is only committing to the one furthest away because it refuses to reduce air traffic now, the only means of achieving the objective for 2030. The sector is buying time by letting people think that it still has time to continue its growth as before. That is a falsehood, it doesn’t! Time has run out!

Not enough biomass for everyone

Because of the necessary energy transition , biomass is coveted by many economic players, including wood, agricultural and forestry residues. It will also be necessary to limit withdrawals to preserve enough biomass to absorb all the atmospheric CO2 necessary in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, i.e. to compensate for emissions that could not be eliminated. Considering that:

  • some flights can be replaced by less carbon-intensive ground transport,
  • that 50 % of passengers travel for non-essential needs (tourism, leisure),
  • that flying is the privilege of a wealthy minority who travel a lot,

We affirm that: renewable energies (biomass and electricity) must be reserved for the decarbonisation of the most essential uses that concern as many people as possible.
Care must also be taken to ensure that they are not wasted and therefore they must be used first and foremost in the most efficient way. In this respect, the process which will be used by BioTjet is low efficiency, much lower than that obtained if electricity were used for electric cars and biomass to produce heat.

We therefore call for air traffic to be limited to its essential uses; at least as long as renewable energy resources remain insufficient. The French are willing to do this: according to a poll conducted for BFMTV, “59% say they are ready to fly even less so as to enable France to save energy and 20% say they are already doing so. ”

Overestimated emission reductions

Elyse Energy indicates that the fuels produced will meet the target of a 70% reduction in carbon emissions. But even if the company manages to meet the regulatory requirements, we have serious doubts about the reality of this reduction.

First, since the calculation of the carbon footprint assumes that biomass is carbon neutral because it is renewable. This would be the case if replanted trees immediately regained the CO2 absorption capacity they will have at maturity, but this is obviously not the case. Felled trees leave a void that takes decades to fill, at precisely the time when they are needed most to prevent uncontrollable irreversible climate change induced phenomena.

Secondly, the climate impact of aircraft is not only due to CO2. Contrail-induced cirrus clouds and NOx derivatives have twice the impact of CO2, an impact that so-called sustainable aviation fuels only partially reduce.

Low chances of success

At a Senate hearing in April 2023, the CEO of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, dismissed second-generation biofuels: ” Today we don’t know how to make 2G from forest or plant residues on an industrial scale (…) We put a lot of money into it, with Shell and the others. But we’re now dealing with biotechnology here. That works in the lab, as a pilot, but It doesn’t work on an industrial scale. This statement is corroborated by the NGO Biofuelwatch, which explained in a 2018 report that no industrial project based on cellulose gasification has ever been successful, and that the recent Red Rocks Biofuels project in the US also failed after engulfing $75 million in government grants and $300 million of a loan guaranteed by the state of Oregon.

Therefore, we warn the French government and local authorities who might be tempted to support the E-CHO project: not only is 2nd generation bio-kerosene a poor solution for global heating, but its chances of success are low.

Contribution to the public consultation filed by Rester sur Terre (Stay Grounded) on January 17, 2024 (Text, illustrations and appendices)

BioTJet in numbers:

  • Capacity: 75,000 t/year of e-biokerosene, i.e. 1% of French kerosene consumption in 2019 (+ 35,000 t/year of e-bionaphtha for the plastics industry)
  • Required hydrogen: 32,000 t/year, using 230 MW of electrical power
  • Required biomass: 300,000 t/year of dry matter, 50% of which would be wood feedstock mainly from local forests, which would mean cutting down about 10,000 ha per year.
  • Area required for the factory: 45 ha (79 ha for the whole complex, including a hydrogen production plant using electrolysis, a plant producing e-methanol for maritime transport and industry, and the BioTJet plant) )
  • Investment: €2 billion (for the whole complex)
  • Expected commissioning: 2028

A sister project in Gardanne (near Marseille):

Hynovera, another French project for the production of aviation biofuels and methanol, was the subject of a preliminary consultation in 2022, which led its sponsor to modify the project : the production of e-metahnol has been abandoned, biokerosene will be produced by fermentation of biomass and no longer through gasification as in the Lacq project, and the production capacity will be halved.

Photo credit: Richard Dorrell – Creative Commons license (CC-By-SA)

Der Beitrag E-CHO industrial biofuel complex in France: so-called sustainable aviation fuels are a false solution erschien zuerst auf Stay Grounded.

Categories: G1. Progressive Green

Schiphol Airport’s new report demands a reduction of aviation

Fri, 01/26/2024 - 02:44

January 25th – Yesterday, Schiphol airport published new research, showing the need for a strong reduction of air traffic in order to halt climate heating. The airport proposes the ‘Polluter pays’ principle, with measures such as a worldwide kerosene tax and a tax for business class and private flights.

“This report is a ray of light on the aviation horizon. It is rare that the industry, in this case one of the five biggest European airports, actually acknowledges the need for degrowth. We hope this opens the eyes of further airports and policy makers to the urgency of implementing the proposed measures”, says Magdalena Heuwieser from the global Stay Grounded network.

Schiphol’s research showed that at least a 30 percent CO2 reduction (when compared to 2019) is needed for Schiphol and European aviation to be on track in 2030. That’s more than the current Dutch goal of a 9 percent reduction.

The Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) and research institute CE Delft were commissioned by Schiphol to investigate what is needed in order to bring Schiphol’s CO2 emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. The CE Delft report explains why “technological breakthroughs will come too late” and so-called “Sustainable Aviation Fuel” production has limits. It concludes that: “Demand management measures are necessary to align the aviation sector with the goals of the Paris Agreement.”

The following measures are proposed by Schiphol Airport: 

  • Convert the Dutch air passenger tax to a distance-based tax. 20 percent of flights (long haul) are responsible for 80 percent of emissions. This tax would be in line with existing distance-based taxation in Germany and the UK.
  • Additional tax for business class and private flights.
  • Divert flight tax proceeds back to help the Dutch aviation sector accelerate its move away from fossil fuels. This would also create a competitive advantage for the development of sustainable aviation initiatives in the country.
  • Expand the European emissions trading scheme to include intercontinental flights. This currently only applies to flights within Europe.
  • Introduce a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in Europe to prevent carbon leakage and maintain a level playing field.
  • Commit to a worldwide kerosene tax and blending obligation through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

These measures are a great deal more realistic about the scale of change needed than most industry proposals about emissions are. Aviation is the pinnacle of climate injustice, with 1% being responsible for 50% of aviation emissions. It is mostly the global elite who are super-emitters, and they should pay for it via taxes, and extra charges for business class. Still, these are mostly market-based measures, which fall short of actually reducing flights in a fair way: instead of a tax on private flights, we need a ban on private flights as well as short-haul flights, a frequent flying levy and clear caps on flights at airports. The tax revenues should be used to invest in reliable, sustainable train networks”, concludes Magdalena Heuwieser from Stay Grounded.

 

PRESS CONTACT:
Stay Grounded, Magdalena Heuwieser, +43 (0) 670 3534311, press@stay-grounded.org

Der Beitrag Schiphol Airport’s new report demands a reduction of aviation erschien zuerst auf Stay Grounded.

Categories: G1. Progressive Green

Stay Grounded in review: 2023 – A year of sustained momentum

Tue, 01/09/2024 - 05:51

2023 was a busy year, with lots of growth and momentum in the movement and within the Stay Grounded network. We saw our network grow – reaching 215 members! – and numerous inventive and impactful actions against private jets, aviation growth, and destructive tourism. While it’s impossible to cover everything, here’s our attempt to give an overview of the activities and achievements of our 215 member initiatives, our individual members, our working groups, our volunteers, our Turtles coordination group, and our team of campaigners.

The call to ban private jets grew loud

Our campaign against private jets and luxury emissions gained momentum and demands for policymakers to implement effective solutions – such as a ban on private jets, a ban on frequent flying programmes, and a tax on frequent flying – were echoed by the movement through powerful actions throughout the year. 

In May, a hundred activists supporting Stay Grounded, Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion, and Scientist Rebellion, and other climate justice groups, disrupted Europe’s biggest sales fair of private jets (EBACE) in Geneva. It was a key moment in the movement to hold the rich accountable for their outrageous emissions and brought hope and motivation. “We’ve come to tell the super-rich that the party is over. To expose the toxicity of the private jet industry, which is fuelling further the climate catastrophe and injustice!”, explained Charlène Fleury, who came to join the action from France.

As part of the campaign we produced a number of resources to help people understand and explain why private jets are the pinnacle of climate injustice. We created key messages to frame and communicate the issue, a Q&A cheatsheet, and infographics. In August, we released our factsheet on private jets (available in English, French, Spanish and German), which debunks claims made by the private jet industry and explains the solutions we need. 

In October, 90 organisations – including Stay Grounded – issued an open letter calling on national and European policymakers to ban private jets and tax frequent flying. Our demand for an end to luxury emissions was bolstered by people across Europe, just days before, taking to the streets in the Their Time To Pay marches which called for an end to the current unjust system and the resulting cost of living and climate crises. 

Action snowballed

The energy for action continued throughout 2023. In April, we joined The Big One – a mass protest organised by Extinction Rebellion in the UK – our member BAAN co-organised the March Against Airport Expansion with over 5,000 people joining. Groups in France staged a week of actions in May to demand a cap on flights and a curfew. 

The year culminated with several key moments in the movement to ground aviation. In Mexico, several actions took place against the new Tulum International Airport. Activists condemned the marketing of this as a ‘green airport’ despite its devastating environmental impact and the fact that it jeopardises Mayan peoples’ interests. 

At the same time, supporters of Code Rouge from across Europe took action at Liège Airport in a peaceful direct action to demand a drastic reduction of flights. Shortly before, hundreds of activists were arrested around Antwerp, while preparing to block Antwerp International airport, one of the biggest private jet airports in Belgium. Despite police targeting activists, a large group managed to enter Antwerp Airport and achieved success: no private jets took off from Kortrijk or Antwerp on that day.

Fighting industry greenwashing

2023 saw the aviation industry dig its heels even further into new greenwashing strategies in order to continue its climate-wrecking growth. As always, we didn’t let them! The Stay Grounded greenwashing working group produced a detailed, comprehensively researched, and accessible fact-sheet on Carbon Offsetting. This explained why the very concept of using resources that are essential for the global majority to continue the polluting habits of a wealthy minority is fundamentally unjust. Meanwhile, research commissioned by Stay Grounded showed the reality of forest carbon offsets: exaggerated emission savings and legal challenges.  

We saw the industry shift its focus towards so-called Sustainable Aviation Fuel in 2023, presenting it as a magic bullet to continue to pollute. We turned their attempts to greenwash the public with so-called SAF into an opportunity to raise public awareness of this false solution. During Virgin Atlantic’s 100% so-called “SAF” flight we contributed to over 300 articles while also doing TV and radio interviews to call them out for what it was: a greenwashing marketing gimmick. 

Our network and educational work grew

In 2023, we welcomed 15 new member initiatives. Our multipliers network also grew to nearly 200 multipliers ready to give talks and workshops about aviation and climate injustice. Across autumn we ran 30 trainings for multipliers in French, English, Spanish, and German and saw enthusiastic new campaigners joining our global network to spread the word. 

We hosted two webinars looking at the destruction wrought by extractivist tourism and an industry co-dependent on aviation. The first reimagined tourism in a future with less air traffic and the second examined the urge to travel to far away places while ignoring the beauty and mystery that surrounds us. Last year our airport conflict working group collaborated again with the Environmental Justice team to continually update the map of airport conflicts and injustices in the Environmental Justice Atlas (English/Spanish). In August, the Mexican members CPOEEM and Otros Mundos represented Stay Grounded at the Mesoamerican Gathering for Social Moments – a valuable opportunity to exchange with other movements in the region and place the topic of aviation in the agenda of such a meeting. In September, we also co-organised a webinar with our member CECIC on the dynamics of airport expansion and tourism development in the African continent while focusing on the resistance against the expansion of the Kasese airstrip in Uganda.

In February, we joined with Safe Landing and Transport & Environment to organise an online workshop inviting aviation workers to discuss their future and job security. The aim was to bring together workers across companies and trade unions from different countries to share experiences, network and strategise. In September, we joined with Umanotera, to host a webinar on aviation subsidies in Europe. This session explored the complex web of direct and indirect subsidies which privilege the aviation industry in the EU and explained that any campaign to abolish aviation subsidies would need to include aviation workers and focus on the positive impact of taxing aviation. 

The Stay Grounded campaigners team also saw new members join with Sara joining as an action coordinator, Lounes joining within the Network Coordination and Education teams, and Sean and Hannah joining the comms team. At the regional coordination level, Angel Sulub joined the team as regional coordinator for the network in Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC), an important milestone in the consolidation of the LAC network and SG work in the region. During winter, the campaigners team and the Turtles coordinating committee took part in a two session anti-oppression training to reflect on ways to further decolonise our network structures and protocols. 

Looking to 2024

In 2024 we want to build on the skills, momentum, and achievements that were plentiful in 2023. We’ll be looking at measures to reduce frequent flying, countering industry greenwashing on so-called “SAF”, and continuing to support local airport resistances. 

If you’re interested in getting more involved with Stay Grounded in 2024 by becoming a member, join us!  

In spring, we’re joining Badvertising for an international week of action to expose the industry’s scandalous greenwashing. To get involved in organising a creative action sign up

Thank you for your support! We look forward to organising alongside you, learning with you, and supporting each other in 2024 and beyond. 

Der Beitrag Stay Grounded in review: 2023 – A year of sustained momentum erschien zuerst auf Stay Grounded.

Categories: G1. Progressive Green

Mass civil disobedience at Belgium airports and protests against destructive mega projects in Mexico highlighting aviation as the pinnacle of climate injustice

Sat, 12/16/2023 - 10:21
  • Activists from across Europe took action at Liège Airport
  • Hundreds of activists have been arrested in Antwerp after being targeted by police
  • In Mexico, several actions are taking place against the new Tulum International Airport

16th December 2023: Today, supporters of Code Rouge/Rood from several European countries have entered Lìege Airport in a peaceful direct action to denounce the injustice and climate impact of aviation and demand a drastic reduction of flights.

This happened just after hundreds of activists were arrested around Antwerp, while preparing to block Antwerp International airport, one of the biggest private jet airports in Belgium. Despite police targetting activists, a large group managed to enter Antwerp Airport and achieved success: no private jets took off from Kortrijk or Antwerp today.

Ruth Marie, spokesperson for the Code Rouge movement, said: “Private jets are the pinnacle of climate injustice and there is absolutelly no reason for their existance in a climate and cost of living crisis. The frequent flying habits of the super-rich are a huge driver of collapse and the opitomy of this injustice: 1% of the global population is responsible for 50% of aviation emissions. It’s time for the super-rich to quit their destructive toys and luxury habits and stop burning up our planet. It’s time to ban private jets.”

Image credits: Code Rouge/Rood

At Liège Airport, Europe’s fastest growing cargo airport and the main European logistics hub for e-commerce firm Alibaba, 600 activists are preventing planes from unloading the imported cargo onto distribution trucks. They are denouncing the expansion of the airport and the growth of air freight for mass consumption, with major impacts on health, the local economy and the climate.

Leo Tubbax, spokesperson for Stay Grounded member Stop Alibaba & co, said: “Liège Airport is the fastest growing cargo airport in Europe and they still want to continue expanding it. This is madness: airport expansion must stop, here and everywhere, and air traffic needs to be drastically reduced, through a process of just transition that prioritises workers’ safety and livelihoods. At the same time, we need to shift towards an economy of short distances that enables the reduction of air freight.”

Image credits: Code Rouge/Rood

The protests are part of a mass civil disobedience action announced by Code Rouge targeting the aviation industry. Their demands, include a ban on private jets and short haul flights, the end of subsidies for the aviation sector and its greenwashing, the decrease of air freight and an end to all airport expansion in Belgium – measures that need to be paired with a just transition for workers and wide investment in public and affordable grounded transport.

In Mexico, another wave of protests shows a different face of airport conflicts: activists are denouncing the new International Tulum airport, highlighting its connection to military projects and US presence. They condemn the fact that it’s marketed as a ‘green airport’ despite its huge environmental impacts and the way it disregards and jeopardises Mayan people’s interests.

Angel Sulub, spokesperson for Permanecer en la Tierra, said: “This airport and connected megaprojects, such as the Tren Maya, are ecocidal enterprizes, having led to the cutting of 5.7 millon trees. It is increasing the presence of military forces in the region and violates the right to free, prior and informed consent of the Mayan peoples. It illustrates dramatically the scope of neocolonial global injustice that is part of the aviation and tourism sectors and of a world of globalized hypermobility.”

These actions take place days after another UN Climate Change Conference, which world leaders swarmed to on private jets to discuss solutions for the climate crisis. Besides failing, once again, to establish binding commitments to phase out fossil fuels, COP28 continued to leave international aviation emissions out of the agreements, making clear how much a strong climate justice movement is needed to push for real solutions.

In Belgium, the action will be followed by a march on 17th December. The protests mark the end of a year full of diverse and impactful actions opposing aviation and demanding it’s reduction, particularly around private jets and luxury emissions, entering 2024 with a growing international movement.

High-quality photos and videos available here.

Contacts
Stay Grounded press office: Hannah, press@stay-grounded.org, (+43) 0670 550 09 34

Der Beitrag Mass civil disobedience at Belgium airports and protests against destructive mega projects in Mexico highlighting aviation as the pinnacle of climate injustice erschien zuerst auf Stay Grounded.

Categories: G1. Progressive Green

Code Rouge mass action against the aviation industry

Tue, 12/05/2023 - 06:28

This year, Code Rouge are setting their sights on aviation with their mass action, which will take place between Friday 15th and Sunday 17th December.

The ‘People Not Planes’ mobilisation focuses on the climate injustice of the aviation industry and its determination to keep growing beyond planetary boundaries simply for the 1% of super-rich people who are responsible for 50% of emissions from flying. The aviation industry has a disastrous impact on the climate, maintains precarious working conditions for its employees, and yet still receives a privileged policy environment with huge tax breaks and subsidies.

Not only that, but the aviation industry has become an expert at greenwashing, misleading us with excuses that do nothing but delay the urgent change we need to see: a huge reduction in flights. That’s why, Code Rouge is mobilising activists and taking action to put the aviation industry in check, make a radical U-turn, and ensure that people and planet are put first.

Their demands are:

  1. Ban private jets, short and ultra-short flights
    That means flights within a 500 km radius, flights with less than 50 people on board, empty and domestic flights.
  2. End subsidies and kerosene tax exemptions
    End subsidies and state aid to airports and airline companies, as well as investments in aviation infrastructure. This also includes ending the preferential treatment for aviation in taxation, by taxing kerosine and plane tickets. Use the revenues from taxes to pay for loss and damage, and to subsidise long distance public transport.
  3. Make public transport more affordable than flying
    Invest in affordable and sustainable public transport for all, particularly long distance transport by rail, in Belgium and across Europe. This requires infrastructure alignments and subsidies. Cut taxes on train tickets to begin with, and raise awareness on the climate impact of flying.
  4. Degrowair freightby relocalising production chains and stimulating a circular economy, as well as shifting cargo transportation to sustainable means of transportation such as rail.
  5. Stop all expansion of airports in Belgium
    Expansion in terms of capacity, and surface area such as in Liège-Bierset and Brussels-Zaventem should be stopped to halt the additional climate and health impact of an expansion.
  6. Close down Flemish regional airports
    Flemish regional airports should be closed, as suggested by the societal cost-benefit analysis commissioned by the Flemish government.
  7. Preserve the health of airport workers, neighbours, flora and fauna
    Limit noise pollution and adopt a flight curfew, meaning no more planes take off or land between 22h and 7h. Carry out permanent air and noise pollution measurements to ensure compliance with WHO recommendations, and apply the industrial emission norms on airports, too.
  8. Provide a just transition for airport workers
    The industry and the authorities should engage in negotiations and concerted planning with airport workers, in order to create sustainable, qualitative jobs with similar or better conditions and pay, and support workers in the transition towards those jobs.
  9. Stop industry greenwashing, such as carbon offsetting
    Carbon offsetting schemes and greenwashing talk of technological fixes allow pollution to continue because they distracts from the absolute need to reduce destructive air traffic emissions.
  10. Ban ads for flying
    Just like ads for cigarettes are banned because they harm our health, so should ads for flying be banned.

Despite millions of people coming together over the past few years to demand urgent, systemic change we’ve seen politicians and industry continue to delay and distract from the change we need to see. Code Rouge is inviting activists to join their ‘People Not Planes’ mobilisation to take the next step together and demand urgent action.

Code Rouge is a civil disobedience movement. This year’s mass action, follows on from Code Rouge’s action last October against Total Energies where several hundred activists called for the French fossil fuel giant to abandon several projects, including the construction of an oil pipeline in Uganda and Tanzania.

To get involved in their ‘People Not Planes’ mobilisation join an upcoming information or training session, either in person or online. For more information visit their website.

Der Beitrag Code Rouge mass action against the aviation industry erschien zuerst auf Stay Grounded.

Categories: G1. Progressive Green

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