Ongoing emissions from…
… greenwashed fuels and engines
• Jet Zero and the politics of the technofix
https://peopleandnature.wordpress.com/2021/09/09/jet-zero-and-the-politics-of-the-technofix/
• Airlines need to do more than plant trees to hit net zero, MPs told
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/22/airlines-need-to-do-more-than-plant-trees-to-hit-net-zero-mps-told
• Corporate greenwashing: an obstacle on the road to net zero
https://bylinetimes.com/2021/07/19/corporate-greenwashing-an-obstacle-on-the-road-to-net-zero/
HYDROGEN FUEL
Burning hydrogen fuel still creates non-CO2 emissions twice as warming as avoided flight CO2 emissions, and generating enough CO2 emissions-free hydrogen will use more than all the renewable electricity currently generated.
• Blue hydrogen is an environmental dead-end
https://bylinetimes.com/2021/09/03/blue-hydrogen-is-an-environmental-dead-end/
• Carbon from UK’s blue hydrogen bid still to equal 1m petrol cars
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/22/uk-switch-to-hydrogen-power-must-not-rely-on-fossil-fuels-warn-campaigners
• Oil firms made ‘false claims’ on blue hydrogen costs, says ex-lobby boss
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/20/oil-firms-made-false-claims-on-blue-hydrogen-costs-says-ex-lobby-boss
• Chair of UK hydrogen body quits over support for fossil-fuel dependent ‘blue hydrogen’ championed by Tories
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/blue-hydrogen-association-chair-quits-b1905437.html
• Huge interest in Southland green hydrogen project
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/huge-interest-in-southland-green-hydrogen-project/3H7T64O5FFMZU72ATPFMS6UELA/
• FAA gives $50M to Pratt, GE Aviation
https://www.journalinquirer.com/business/faa-gives-50m-to-pratt-ge-aviation/article_bc7c7a04-1ae5-11ec-b4f8-efc63f59c750.html
• Oil giant Shell sets sights on sustainable aviation fuel take-off
https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/oil-giant-shell-sets-sights-sustainable-aviation-fuel-take-off-2021-09-19/
• Air NZ to work with Airbus on carbon-free hydrogen planes
https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/air-nz-to-work-with-airbus-on-carbon-free-hydrogen-planes-20210915-p58rv4.html?btis
‘SUSTAINABLE’ AVIATION FUELS
The aviation industry uses marketing greenwash and accounting tricks to mislead you into thinking that actual flight emissions from ‘Sustainable’ Aviation Fuel (SAF) are a fraction of those from fossil jet fuel. A jet never burns pure SAF, so a common 50:50 blend with fossil jet fuel doubles claimed emissions. And actual flight CO2 emissions are additionally more than claimed, by the amount of CO2 drawn down in making the fuel. Furthermore SAF still creates non-CO2 emissions twice as warming as actual flight CO2 emissions.
• Biden administration sets goal of replacing all jet fuel with sustainable alternatives by 2050
https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2021/09/09/jets-sustainable-aviation-fuel-goal/
BIOFUELS
• Biofuel makers seeks changes to aviation fuel tax credit in Biden spending plan
https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/biofuel-makers-seeks-changes-aviation-fuel-tax-credit-biden-spending-plan-2021-09-16/
• Shell to build one of Europe’s biggest biofuels facilities
https://www.shell.com/media/news-and-media-releases/2021/shell-to-build-one-of-europes-biggest-biofuels-facilities.html
ELECTRIC POWER
• All-electric aircraft from Rolls-Royce completes maiden flight in Britain
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/16/all-electric-aircraft-from-rolls-royce-completes-maiden-flight.html
• Air NZ plans to be flying electric aircraft by 2030, chief pilot says
https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/126364924/air-nz-plans-to-be-flying-electric-aircraft-by-2030-chief-pilot-says
• Green aviation: Electric powered plane trialled over Orkney
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-58180367
… demand growth
• The six problems aviation must fix to hit net zero
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/05/the-six-problems-aviation-must-fix-to-hit-net-zero
• Foster says architects ‘can’t walk away’ from airport projects
https://www.building.co.uk/news/foster-says-architects-cant-walk-away-from-airport-projects/5113533.article
• Greenhouse gas emissions almost back at pre-COVID level
https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2021/37/greenhouse-gas-emissions-almost-back-at-pre-covid-level
• UK government claims people must keep flying to help cut carbon emissions
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/uk-government-claims-people-must-keep-flying-to-help-cut-carbon-emissions/ar-AAOt991?ocid=se
• UK government claims people must keep flying to help cut carbon emissions
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/cop26-carbon-emissions-flying-net-zero-aviation-uk-b1920556.html
• IATA AGM and COP26 are pivotal moments for airline sustainability challenge
https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/iata-agm-and-cop26-are-pivotal-moments-for-airline-sustainability-challenge/145482.article
• Climate impact of a transatlantic flight could cost global economy $3,000
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/06/climate-crisis-transatlantic-flight-global-economy-gdp
• Government department with climate remit took 612 domestic flights since 2019
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/06/government-department-with-climate-remit-took-612-domestic-flights-since-2019
… climate emergency
• United Nations warns of ‘catastrophic pathway’ with current climate pledges
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/17/climate/climate-change-united-nations.html
• Climate change not slowed by the COVID pandemic, UN warns
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/16/climate-change-not-slowed-by-the-covid-pandemic-un-warns
Stopping emissions by
… opposing aviation expansion
• Thousands join protests in Barcelona, Madrid and Mallorca against expansion of airports
https://spanishnewstoday.com/thousands-join-protests-in-barcelona-madrid-and-mallorca-against-expansion-of-airports_1649904-a.html
• Grassroots groups protest Barcelona airport expansion
https://www.catalannews.com/society-science/item/grassroots-groups-protest-barcelona-airport-expansion
• Unions and climate activists find common cause in opposing airport expansion
https://truthout.org/articles/unions-and-climate-activists-find-common-cause-in-opposing-airport-expansion/
• Turbulence ahead (report)
http://www.seiu-usww.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/turbulenceahead.pdf
• Judge issues protest warning as Paralympian jailed for plane stunt
https://theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/24/judge-issues-protest-warning-as-paralympian-jailed-for-plane-stunt
• Health Professionals protest at Leeds Bradford Airport
https://planetradio.co.uk/pulse1/local/news/health-professionals-protest-at-leeds-bradford-airport-2/
• Unite supports expansion of Bristol airport at public inquiry
https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2021/july/unite-supports-expansion-of-bristol-airport-at-public-inquiry/
• Marseille airport expansion stalled on climate grounds
https://www.climatechangenews.com/2019/07/30/marseille-airport-expansion-stalled-climate-grounds/
… personal example
CARBON FOOTPRINTS
• The messy truth about carbon footprints
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2021/09/truth-about-carbon-footprints-climate-change-lifestyle-choices/
… fuel tax
• European Commission aviation pollution tax proposal fuels debate
https://www.airport-technology.com/uncategorised/european-commission-aviation-pollution-tax-proposal-fuels-debate/