{"id":54040,"date":"2022-06-01T11:22:09","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T09:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=54040"},"modified":"2022-06-21T00:27:58","modified_gmt":"2022-06-20T22:27:58","slug":"busted-5-tricks-the-aviation-industry-plays-on-us-to-appear-green","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/54040\/busted-5-tricks-the-aviation-industry-plays-on-us-to-appear-green\/","title":{"rendered":"Busted: 5 tricks the aviation industry plays on us to appear green"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Airlines around the globe have been vying with each other on who has the greenest and shiniest announcements recently. British Airways made headlines<\/a> with its plan to use sustainable aviation fuel on a commercial scale, Air France claimed to aim for a 12% cut in emissions by 2030<\/a>, and Ryanair has called itself \u201cEurope\u2019s lowest emissions airline<\/a>\u201d… <\/p>\n\n

And yet, in the face of the climate crisis, something in this gleaming rhetoric leaves a bitter taste. Could an industry whose global greenhouse gas emissions have been growing by 3.4% annually<\/a> over the previous decade be fooling us about its efforts to become a responsible beacon of climate protection?<\/p>\n\n

Bearing in mind that climate scientists have warned that the climate limit of 1.5\u00b0C is close to being broken<\/a>, let\u2019s take a closer look at the green promises and climate actions of airlines \u2013 and dissect their carbon jargon! <\/p>\n\n

A new report by Greenpeace Central Eastern Europe finds that there is little to no substance to the climate claims made by some of the biggest European airline groups that they will cut greenhouse gas emissions in the future. Why? Firstly because these companies mainly rely on false solutions and tricks that create a myth that aviation is green, despite the fact that flying remains the most climate-damaging means of transportation per passenger and per kilometre<\/a>. These are the industry\u2019s five most widely used tricks and false solutions:<\/p>\n\n

1. The illusion that flying is \u201ccarbon neutral\u201d through offsetting emissions<\/h2>\n\n

Globally, airlines have pledged to become carbon-neutral (or \u201cnet zero\u201d) by 2050<\/a>. Doesn\u2019t sound too bad? Think again! The term \u201ccarbon neutral\u201d does not actually mean cutting greenhouse gas emissions at the source. Instead, it is based on the illusion that someone can release greenhouse gases, and balance them out by capturing these emissions somewhere else in the future, e.g. through carbon offsetting schemes. <\/p>\n\n

Neither planting trees nor avoiding deforestation will make a flight “carbon neutral”. Research has actually shown that only 2% of offset projects<\/a> have a high probability of resulting in additional emissions reduction. Nevertheless, airlines continue to push the illusion that we can fly carbon neutral or net-zero<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Climate scientists have warned<\/a> that the concept of \u201cnet zero\u201d and \u201ccarbon neutrality\u201d is a \u201cdangerous trap\u201d that has \u201chastened the destruction of the natural world by increasing deforestation<\/a> today, and greatly increases the risk of further devastation in the future\u201d.<\/p>\n\n

\"Flood
Abandoned aircraft sit on a flooded tarmac at the Don Muang domestic airport which has been closed for weeks due to the extreme flooding in the area in Bangkok (2011).
\u00a9 Athit Perawongmetha \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

2. Overemphasis on \u201csustainable\u201d aviation fuel as a solution<\/h2>\n\n

The airline industry loves bringing up the magic word \u201cSustainable Aviation Fuel\u201d (SAF) which refers to a variety of relatively new types of jet fuel based on e.g. biomass or waste intended to replace fossil fuel-based kerosene. But the problem with so-called sustainable aviation fuel is: it is not sufficiently available and\/or mostly not really sustainable. While airlines present SAF as a key lever to decarbonise<\/a> aviation, it only represents 0.05% of the annual jet fuel<\/a> needed in the EU. In 2019, SAF accounted for at most 0.1% of the total annual jet fuel consumption of airlines analysed in a new Greenpeace CEE report.<\/a> It\u2019s estimated that SAF will make up only 19% of airline fuels by 2040<\/a> \u2013 meaning that 81% will still be fossil-fuel based kerosene.<\/p>\n\n

Not to mention that crop-based biofuel or so-called agrofuel which is made from food and feed crops like palm oil are often associated with deforestation and biodiversity loss<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

What about renewable e-kerosene<\/em>, synthetic kerosene made from electricity and a carbon source? It\u2019s one of the few alternative fuels that can be produced in a relatively eco-friendly way if the electricity comes from 100% renewable sources. But this is a long way from being a done deal and would need significant investment, research and development.<\/p>\n\n

\"Rotterdam
A Transavia aircraft takes off at Rotterdam The Hague Airport.
\u00a9 Marten van Dijl \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

3. Excessive optimism that future technology will cut emissions <\/h2>\n\n

The aviation industry and political leaders are relying on excessive optimism for false technological solutions – and it comes with a high price: researchers<\/a> have warned that \u201ctechnology myths\u201d are stalling the necessary progress in climate policy for aviation. More fuel-efficient planes are not a false solution as such, but they will not be sufficient to achieve decarbonisation in time to limit global heating below 1.5\u00b0C. Under an optimistic scenario, Greenpeace expects an efficiency improvement<\/a> (energy consumption per passenger-kilometre) of only 30% by 2050 – not enough on its own to limit global heating below 1.5\u00b0C.<\/p>\n\n

4. Greenwashing to appear environmentally responsible<\/h2>\n\n

As the world becomes increasingly invested in tackling the climate emergency, the airline industry certainly wants us to think that they are part of the solution, not the problem. We see greenwashing everywhere in the sector<\/a>: from misleading communication<\/a> and sponsorship of climate friendly initiatives<\/a> to the promotion of solutions to tackle the environmental and social shortcomings of the industry that are either wrong, insufficient, or both. There is a big discrepancy between the actual emissions reduction plans of airlines and the promotion of \u201cgreen\u201d PR by the airlines.<\/p>\n\n

\"Paris-Charles
Aircraft takes off at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
\u00a9 Lorraine Turci \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

5. Promotion of frequent flying as a necessity and cheap way of getting around<\/h2>\n\n

Advertisements by airlines pretend that there is no climate emergency<\/a> and no reason to reduce the number of flights. Airline advertising overwhelmingly focuses on low-cost flights, deals and promotions while evoking access to nature through flying, as found in a new Greenpeace Netherlands report<\/a>. The true cost of flying \u2013 the millions of tonnes of GHG emissions it causes \u2013 is not included in a low-cost fare. And let\u2019s be honest: an individual airline ticket might be cheap, but this is only because airlines already benefit from taxpayers money through major tax cuts and public subsidies. <\/p>\n\n

\"Protestival
Greenpeace Netherlands campaigner Faiza Oulahsen gives a speech during the event. \nGreenpeace Netherlands organises a 2 day long event called \u201cProtestival\u201d at Schiphol Airport, the largest tax-free gas station in the Netherlands.\nHundreds of activists join the activity at the airport to demand a climate action plan for the climate emergency.<\/figcaption>
\u00a9 Marten van Dijl \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Block content is empty. Check the block’s settings or remove it.<\/div>\n

Where does this leave us?<\/h2>\n\n

Unfortunately for the planet and us people, airlines are currently getting away with their tricks and false solutions. Without political action to counter its growth prospects, the aviation industry could become one of the biggest emitting sectors globally<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

At the same time, no other means of transport in Europe has been as heavily subsidised with public money through VAT and tax exemptions, state aid, bailouts and loans, as well as research and development support. This has distorted markets for decades to the benefit of aviation above green mobility. For example, airlines are exempt from kerosene taxes and VAT on international tickets, while railway companies pay high energy taxes and rail tolls. On top of this, European airlines still receive a large proportion of their emissions allowances \u2013 permits to pollute under the EU\u2019s Emissions Trading System \u2013 for free. There is a serious lack of strict laws<\/a> to mitigate airlines\u2019 GHG emissions \u2013 and that\u2019s a major problem!<\/p>\n\n

\"Activists
May 2020: activists from Greenpeace Netherlands cycle onto the runway at Schiphol Airport demanding the Dutch government regulates the billions that are being spent to support big polluting industries during the pandemic.
\u00a9 Marten van Dijl \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

What needs to happen, to bring aviation in line with the Paris Climate Goals?<\/h2>\n\n
  1. There is no way around the need to reduce flights to achieve real-zero emissions by 2040. Greenpeace has calculated<\/a> that in order to keep global heating below 1.5\u00b0C, European airlines will have to reduce their flights by 2% annually.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n
    1. Airlines must drop the illusion of \u201ccarbon neutrality\u201d, dispel the myth of “green flying\u201d and stop promoting false solutions that lull everyone into a false sense of security that airlines already have their climate damage under control. Together, we can demand that the EU and European governments put a stop to greenwashing in the aviation sector: Sign this European Citizens\u2019 Initiative (ECI)<\/a> launched by Greenpeace, together with the New Weather Institute and 30 other partners, to ban fossil fuel ads.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n
      1. We must <\/strong>stop giving away free permits to pollute and taxpayers\u2019 money to the sector <\/strong>and make it pay for its pollution. It\u2019s about time that the EU phased out all fossil fuel subsidies for the aviation sector (including for airports) and ensured that tax on kerosene is enhanced and swiftly implemented on all flights.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n
        1. Boost rail and public transport! We have to start building a mobility system that is good for the planet and the people by phasing out fossil fuel powered transport. In doing so, we also have to ensure a <\/strong>just transition for workers in the aviation sector and an end to the increasing instability of working conditions \u2013 and not leave anyone behind.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n

          Herwig Schuster is a transport expert for the European Mobility For All campaign with Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe office, based in<\/em> Austria.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Climate scientists have warned that the limit of 1.5\u00b0C is close to being broken, let\u2019s take a closer look at the green promises and climate actions of airlines \u2013 and dissect their carbon jargon!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":54043,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_planet4_optimize_post_is_variant":false,"_planet4_optimize_experiment_name":"","_planet4_optimize_variant_name":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"Busted: 5 tricks the aviation industry plays on us to appear green","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"Climate Emergency","p4_local_project":"not set","p4_basket_name":"not set","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[89,65],"p4-page-type":[59],"class_list":["post-54040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-energy","tag-climate","tag-energy-revolution","p4-page-type-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54040","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54040"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54040\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54159,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54040\/revisions\/54159"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54040"},{"taxonomy":"p4-page-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/p4-page-type?post=54040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}