The Birmingham Post ran an editorial yesterday attacking our position on the runway extension at BIA and stating, amongst other things, "how out of touch they are with the real world" and asking us to come clean about our agenda.
Now when I was on the radio recently, airport chief Paul Kehoe uttered the legendary phrase "I don't know what planet Friends of the Earth are on" and this seems a remarkably similar line of attack.
The accepted "wisdom" around making economic policy in the West Midlands all seems to be based on there being limitless resources that we can carry on exploiting regardless. What kind of real world is that, exactly?
The real world is the one in which recently the High Court ruled that the Aviation White Paper of 2003, on which all current expansion is based, was obsolete because it does not comply with the Climate Change Act of 2008. It is also based on oil costing $10 a barrel, which is never going to be the case again and the Stern report 2006 also indicates that the economic case for dealing with climate change should be re-examined so as to mitigate now and not allow business as usual.
The concerted efforts by those driven by ideological opposition to government intervention in markets to tackle climate change or short-term business interests to find some real evidence of collusion or fiddling the figures in "climategate" have all failed, so we now have to get on with dealing with this problem. With consensus shown by the leaders of the three main parties on this (if not all the solutions), we are not saying it is time to ground all flights, but that expansion is not the answer when resources are limited and the business case does not stack up.
Localise West Midlands have also blogged on this in support today and their points about "a fuel-scarce future" are as key as any on the impacts of climate change. Prices will only go one way, whether through taxes or demand outstripping supply in the near future, so to rely on affordable oil for air travel is unwise to say the least, as is thinking that biofuels can replace oil without having a devastating effect on the world's eco-systems and capabilities to grow sufficient food.
Unless aviation plays its part in cutting CO2 emissions, other sectors will have to make much deeper cuts, so where would you choose to make those cuts? Also, aviation is currently massively subsidised and ticket prices have fallen compared to the cost of living over the past decade, whereas trains and bus ticket prices have gone up considerably and are among the highest in Europe.
The economic benefits of aviation are wildly exaggerated, as we have pointed out on many occasions. Even Heathrow's claims to make the economy money have been debunked and London is the one place that doesn't have a tourism deficit from aviation. To say only areas that have a large international airport from where people can fly non-stop to destinations all over the world can be successful econmically is also to ignore data from all over the country.
Therefore, our agenda is simple - don't subsidise high carbon polluting forms of transport, such as aviation and give local people a fair deal by spending money from the public purse on projects that have a real benefit.
This doesn't mean we are being extreme, but we want the real story behind the claims on economic benefits to be examined more carefully. If we are to build a long-term sustainable economy that is not dependent on a fast-disappearing resource, we should not be looking to increase airport capacities now, but be planning to use the skills of people in the region to build local markets that are not dependent on aviation.
Once new government guidance is drawn up that relies on the latest scientific and economic data around climate change, oil supplies and low-carbon alternatives we can decide how to best manage demand for aviation. Rushing into decisions to fund extra capacity now would be foolish and waste valuable financial resources at a time when the public purse is being squeezed hard.
Showing posts with label BIA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BIA. Show all posts
Friday, 23 April 2010
Friday, 9 April 2010
Press release on BIA's announcement on delaying the runway extension
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AIRPORT SHOULD COME CLEAN OVER EXPANSION ASPIRATIONS
Environmental campaigners have welcomed this morning's announcement by BIA chief executive Paul Kehoe that the runway extension will not be built for at least 5 years, but are calling for more clarity over what work is to be completed and who will pay for it.
Recently both Birmingham and Solihull councils have offered to put in £16 million of “state aid” to allow the runway extension to go ahead by paying for work to move the A45, but the details of this have remained private. Birmingham FoE is now calling for all relevant documents to be made available for public scrutiny and for the case to be completely reviewed with regards to the legislation now in place.
Friends of the Earth won huge public support for the 2008 Climate Change Act which has made the aviation white paper of 2003 (on which all runway plans were based) obsolete, and they are now calling for more transparency and a complete review of the plans for expanding aviation in this country.
Joe Peacock from Birmingham Friends of the Earth stated “We now know that aviation expansion plans do not add up for the planet or the people of the West Midlands. New government guidance due next year must take into account the science of climate change that is recognised in law and this will mean expanding aviation can no longer be justified.”
“The airport should now tell the public exactly what their plans are and stop asking for state subsidies for damaging work to be carried out on the greenbelt.”
“Birmingham City Council have recently announced some green measures to get the economy moving, so these should be the focus of investment from the public purse, as the financial return for the area will be far higher.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1) Birmingham City Council recently passed the Climate change action plan to cut its £1.5 billion energy bill and generate investment in green jobs http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=8336
2) The Big Ask Campaign resulted in the climate change act 2008 http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/big_ask/
3) Lord Justice Carnwath ruled that the 2003 Air Transport White Paper – the foundation of aiport expansion plans across the country - is obsolete because it is inconsistent with the Climate Change Act 2008. http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2010/626.html
4) Birmingham Friends of the Earth campaigns on many environmental issues, including the promotion of sustainable transport.
For more information contact: Joe Peacock (Birmingham Friends of the Earth)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)