Air quality news: Airport emissions savings "dwarfed" by flights

Although airports have made emissions savings through improved recycling and the installation of renewable energy sources, their efforts are being "dwarfed" by the emissions created by the flights themselves, according to one expert.

Cait Weston, policy and communications officer at the Aviation Environment Federation (AEF), claims that more needs to be done to reduce the amount of air travel. She added that it is not feasible to rely on the potential for "radical technologies" to decarbonise air travel.

"We can't just keep expanding our airports in the hope that some future, mythical technology will save the day," she commented.

Ms Weston went on to say that using teleconference technologies to replace some business travel and holidaying closer to home were more realistic ways of reducing emissions levels within the aviation industry.

Earlier this month, the Institute of Civil Engineers called on the government as well as the industry to rethink its long-term strategies on airport development and their place within the transport infrastructure.

The AEF welcomed the announcement, particularly in light of the latest targets in terms of climate change and emissions reduction.

Posted by Claire Manning