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As autumn sets in and winter looms, many begin contemplating a winter getaway and sandy beaches. But this growing trend is actually putting paradise at risk.
Air travel is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions, and along with emissions from cars, is set to become the dominant source of climate change. The industry also enjoys a unique tax-free status which is helping to fuel further expansion.
Feeling the impact
While holiday destinations begin to slip under rising seas, the most serious effects of climate change will be felt in daily life.
There is a high risk of more extreme weather events such as heat waves and floods. In Europe, river flooding will increase over much of the continent, and in coastal areas the risk of flooding, erosion and wetland loss will increase substantially.
The greatest impacts will be on those least able to protect themselves from rising sea levels, disease increases and decreases in agricultural production in the developing countries of Africa and Asia.
Despite this the government has proposed a massive programme of airport expansion in the UK. In 2003, 200 million people passed through UK airports, a five-fold increase since 1970. By 2030 that number is expected to grow to 500 million.
And unlike other industries, international air travel is not subject to regulation under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
Double standards
The government wants to increase flights throughout the country, from Stansted, Heathrow, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds-Bradford, Bristol and many more airports (see below). They are also proposing development funds are set up for more regional flights. Wherever you live you are going to be seeing and hearing more aircraft overhead.
The aviation industry's growth is fueled by government favours. It is effectively subsidised to the tune of �9 billion a year, there is no tax on aviation fuel or VAT on tickets. The result is that planning applications for bigger airports and runways all over the country are now being drawn up.
So far airlines and airports have done nothing to mitigate the damage they do to the climate. They expect to enjoy unrestrained growth for the next 30 years. If allowed to go ahead this will undermine all efforts being made by other sectors of the economy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
What can you do?
Change needs to begin on the ground and there are a number of things the government should do to curb the growth in air traffic. They need to start by making airlines pay their fair share of taxes and use other fiscal measures so that fares come closer to reflecting their true cost.
Most importantly, the government should scrap its current policy encouraging the growth of air transport. Instead of urging operators "to bring forward plans for increased airport capacity& as quickly as possible" it must bring in measures that manage demand and lead to real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation industry.
If you think we have enough air traffic and that the aviation industry must reduce its global warming impacts, join the pledge against airport expansion. You will be joining others across the country pledging to take personal action to block airport expansion.
Sign the pledge.
Airport expansion in your neighbourhood
In the UK hundreds of thousands of people will be affected by increased air traffic. Is your local airport expanding?
Aberdeen
Belfast
Birmingham
Blackpool
Bournemouth
Bristol
Cardiff
Carlisle
Cosford
Coventry
Derry
Dundee
East Midlands
Edinburgh
Exeter
Glasgow
Heathrow
the Highlands and Islands
Stansted
Leeds-Bradford
Liverpool
London City
Manchester
Newquay
Norwich
Plymouth
Southampton
Wolverhampton
You can take action to stop the expansion, sign the pledge.
