{"id":7533,"date":"2021-07-01T14:26:09","date_gmt":"2021-07-01T14:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/dossier\/?p=7533"},"modified":"2021-09-23T10:20:38","modified_gmt":"2021-09-23T10:20:38","slug":"short-haul-flights-are-a-luxury-the-planet-cant-afford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/dossier\/short-haul-flights-are-a-luxury-the-planet-cant-afford\/","title":{"rendered":"Short haul flights are a luxury the planet can\u2019t afford: tell the European Commission that change should be in the air!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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01.07.2021<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Aviation is exempt from paying fuel tax and receives massive benefits in public funding, despite being the most polluting form of transport. It\u2019s the fastest-growing<\/em> source of greenhouse gases, in large part caused by unnecessary short-haul flights. It\u2019s time to stop aviation\u2019s preferential treatment and invest in sustainable travel, writes Ciar\u00e1n Cuffe MEP<\/a><\/strong>, Greens\/EFA MEP and Transport and Tourism Coordinator.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Despite the global pandemic causing many flights to be cancelled for\nover a year, aviation emissions are expected to grow between 220-290%\n<\/a> compared to 2015 levels by 2050. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Under the new EU Climate Law<\/a>, the European Union has to become climate neutral by 2050 at the latest. But even so, some politicians keep arguing that we cannot restrict flying in any way – despite its huge environmental impact and the availability of cheaper, more sustainable, and more socially just alternatives. If we don’t do something soon, their reluctance to crack down on this polluting industry will propel the EU way over its promised climate targets, and force the planet into full climate breakdown. That\u2019s why we wrote to the European Commission asking them to act on short-haul flights<\/a> – and arguing for a level playing field in the transport sector by bringing to an end unfair tax exemptions for polluters. We also highlighted that passengers need more information on the environmental impact of their travel, so we don\u2019t inadvertently contribute to this climate disaster. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Why don’t\nairlines pay fuel tax? Polluters shouldn’t get an unfair advantage<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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For too long, airlines have been granted\nprivileges that create unfair competition versus more sustainable means of\ntransport, like rail. In Europe, there are plenty of viable,\nenvironmentally-friendly alternatives to planes that could be so much more\ncompetitive, if only the EU would stop allowing unfair advantages to airlines.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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What gives\nairlines an unfair competitive advantage against rail and sustainable transport\ncompanies?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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