
Increasing aviation emissions from
… greenwashing
MEDIA
• Head in the clouds? Google’s underreporting of aviation’s environmental impact might be of concern to businesses
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=bba26707-097c-4297-8212-5b6faa1fe924
FUELS AND ENGINES
‘Sustainable’ Aviation Fuel (SAF): The aviation industry uses marketing greenwash and accounting tricks to mislead you into thinking that actual flight emissions from 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.
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.
• What Boeing’s new research center means for sustainable aviation
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/what-boeings-new-research-center-means-for-sustainable-aviation/143237/
• Biden administration unveils roadmap to clean up emissions from air travel
https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/agriculture/092322-biden-administration-unveils-roadmap-to-clean-up-emissions-from-air-travel
• NGOs to demonstrate in Brussels to demand European lawmakers choose food over fuel
https://www.transportenvironment.org/discover/ngos-to-demonstrate-in-brussels-to-demand-european-lawmakers-choose-food-over-fuel/
• Air Company Launches Sustainable Aviation Fuel Made from Captured CO2
https://www.environmentalleader.com/2022/09/air-company-launches-sustainable-aviation-fuel-made-from-captured-co2/
• Airmade: Sustainable Aviation Fuel Made From CO2
https://www.aircompany.com/sustainable-aviation-fuel/
OFFSETS
When all sectors need to reduce their emissions to zero, the aviation industry buys/offsets the reductions of others in order to grow its own emissions.
• EasyJet to stop offsetting CO2 emissions from December
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/sep/26/easyjet-will-stop-offsetting-carbon-emissions-from-planes-roadmap-net-zero
… infrastructure expansion
AIRPORTS
• A Complex Issue of Policy, Environmental Justice and Irresponsible Governance Reduced to Navel Gazing
https://ctexaminer.com/2022/08/30/a-complex-issue-of-policy-environmental-justice-and-irresponsible-governance-reduced-to-navel-gazing
… demand growth
AIR CARGO
• Air cargo sector plays bigger role in CO2 emission reductions
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/air-cargo-sector-plays-bigger-role-in-co2-emission-reductions
… industry denial
• Here’s what you get if you ask airlines what they can do about the climate crisis
https://www.bigissue.com/news/environment/heres-what-you-get-if-you-ask-airlines-what-they-can-do-about-the-climate-
• ICAO states, aviation industry battle over stringency of CORSIA baseline
https://carbon-pulse.com/173448/
… delusional reduction pathways
TOO LATE
• Pathways towards 90% decarbonization of aviation by 2050
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01486-3
• Grasping the sustainable opportunity – the 41st ICAO Assembly
https://www.aerosociety.com/news/grasping-the-sustainable-opportunity-the-41st-icao-assembly/
• A cleaner future for flight — aviation needs a radical redesign
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02963-7
TOO LITTLE
• How Continuous Descent Is Saving CO2 At Some European Airports
https://simpleflying.com/continuous-descent-co2-savings-europe-2022/
• Transport Secretary calls for international action to decarbonise global aviation
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-calls-for-international-action-to-decarbonise-global-aviation
Climate impacts on aviation
• How the climate crisis is making flying more dangerous
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/climate-change-airline-safety-efficiency-b2147352.html
Stopping emissions by
… demand reduction
• Climate change experts warn people must rethink trans-Tasman travel habits
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/473959/climate-change-experts-warn-people-must-rethink-trans-tasman-travel-habits
… advertising bans
• Let’s ban fossil fuel ads and sponsorships for good
https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/49826/ban-fossil-fuel-ads-and-sponsorships/
• Activists subvert poster sites to shame aviation and ad industries
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/22/activists-subvert-poster-sites-aviation-ad-industries-airline-emissions-climate-crisis
• Consumer watchdog to crack down on fake green claims by business
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/consumer-watchdog-to-crack-down-on-fake-green-claims-by-business-20220920-p5bjf5.html
… protesting
AIRPORT EXPANSIONS
• Anti-airport expansion activist faces continued persecution
https://stay-grounded.org/anti-airport-expansion-activist-faces-continued-persecution-by-portuguese-state/
PRIVATE JETS
• Protester sets fire to his arm during Laver Cup opening session
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/sep/23/protestor-sets-fire-to-his-arm-during-laver-cup-opening-session
… travel alternatives
RAIL
• ‘Train bragging’: Swedish service joins glorious resurgence of sleeper travel
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/sep/01/train-bragging-swedish-service-joins-glorious-resurgence-of-sleeper-travel