Air Tickets to Disaster?

John Vidal (ex-Environmental editor of the Guardian) collects some highly pertinent information about UK aviation and climate change (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/feb/22/airlines-ghost-flights-net-zero-uk-aviation-climate-crisis). Vidal notes that, before the Covid19 pandemic, the UK had the world's third largest aviation sector (after the USA and China). In 2019, aviation accounted for 8% of UK 'greenhouse gas' emissions. The UK's emissions from flying, are the third highest per capita. This is not evenly spread. 1 and 10 percent of people take, 20% and 50% respectively, of all UK flights. The UK government expects an increase of more than 230 million passengers a year will use a UK airport by 2050. This is when the UK government has pledged to achieve carbon zero emissions. Their own Climate Change Committee, warns that passenger numbers must grow by no more than 25% to stand any chance of net zero. In spite of optimistic noises, there is clearly no quick 'techno fix' for aviation emissions. In spite of this, the aviation industry (and related travel/airport companies), are heavily subsidised with tax breaks and handouts from the UK government. Most UK airports appear hell-bent on expansion. The more the aviation industry grows, the greater emissions cuts that will be needed from other sectors (e.g. housing; car transport, agriculture etc). This situation is clearly unsustainable. Air travel should be taxed appropriately, using the principle of the polluter pays. The cash generated could then be used to develop a) alternative modes of transport (e.g. trains) and b) more efficient heating systems and insulation for homes.