Sustainable Development in a Changing Climate - International Development Committee Contents


Written evidence submitted by British Airways plc

INTRODUCTION

  1.1  British Airways welcomes the opportunity to submit evidence to the International Development Select Committee's inquiry into "Sustainable Development in a Changing Climate".

1.2  The airline's main base is London Heathrow Airport, the UK's primary international hub airport and one of the busiest airports in the world. BA also operates from eight other airports in the UK, and worldwide, to more than 150 destinations over 70 countries. It employs 43,000 people, of whom 38,000 work in the United Kingdom.

1.3  British Airway offers almost 550 flights in total to and from Heathrow each weekday, with a further 190 services a day to and from London Gatwick daily and more than 40 per day to and from London City.

AVIATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT : A BRIEF OVERVIEW

  2.1  Much has been written and discussed about aviation's contribution to climate change. Regrettably, much of the debate is inaccurate and exaggerates the industry's impact. The Stern Report, published in 2006, states that the aviation industry's CO2 emissions currently account for less than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It also suggests this will rise to less that 3% by 2050 under business-as-usual predictions.

2.2  British Airways believes the industry should pay for its environmental impact and supports emissions trading as the best and fairest method to do this. The UK aviation industry has taken a strong lead in improving its environmental performance through Sustainable Aviation, a coalition of aircraft and engine manufacturers, airlines and airports, and continues to review, develop and improve all aspects of its operation.

  2.3  British Airways supports the inclusion of aviation in the post-2012 global climate change policy. This should be achieved through a sectoral approach that reflects the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, whilst avoiding competitive distortion in air transport markets.

THE ROLE OF AIR TRANSPORT

The role of transport, including aviation, in economic development in developing countries, particularly freight and exports, and the impact of such transport on the environment

  3.1  British Airways' comments are restricted to point four of the Committee's Terms of Reference on its inquiry into Sustainable development in a Changing Climate, with specific reference to aviation.

3.2  It is widely recognised that air transport is a driver for economic development, and this is applicable to developing countries as it is to mature economies. It offers access to markets for goods and services, and facilitates the movement of both tourists and migrants, which add value to developing nations.

3.3  In 2007-08, British Airways imported 55,000 tonnes of perishable cargo into the UK through its specialist facilities at London's Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. 29,000 tonnes arrived from Africa (mainly Kenya, South Africa and Egypt) and 20,000 tonnes from the Americas (Brazil, the Caribbean and California). The remaining 6,000 tonnes were shipped from Thailand, India, South Asian and Mediterranean countries.

  3.4  The freight comprised mainly soft fruits, green vegetables, flowers and fish. British Airways has seen a growth in the preparation and packaging of these goods at source, which we believe is driven by economic grounds—the prepared food is lighter and so incurs lower cargo charges, meaning either less weight is carried resulting in lower emissions, or more is carried for the same amount of emissions.

  3.5  Almost all of this produce was carried in the belly-holds of scheduled passenger flights, rather than in specific dedicated freighter aircraft.

  3.6  Furthermore, processing plants have lower operating costs in the source countries, with a greater supply of manpower and less mechanisation also contributing to a lower carbon footprint.

  3.7  This has contributed many millions of dollars to local economies and producers, and enabled many local communities to thrive. British Airways offers the following two examples of air transport contributing to local economies.

  3.8  A case study by the Department of international Development of Blue Skies, a Ghanaian food co-operative, reports that the organisation "provides training and support to over 150 farmers, 78 of whom are small-holder organic farmers. Its fresh-cut fruit factory employs 1,700 people and through salaries alone, injects over £2 million into the local community every year. The company accounts for around 1% of Ghana's total exports."[20]

  3.9  A second example is in South Africa, where a strategic infrastructure project is being created in KwaZulu-Natal known as the DUBE Trade Port (DTP). A critical component of this investment is King Shaka International Airport, which is being constructed as part of the overall DTP initiative to provide for direct long-haul international flights and expanding domestic flight network.

  3.10  Apart from the tourism benefits the airport will bring, the DTP plans include integrated trade and agricultural export zones. The trade zone will be linked to the airport's air freight facilities and will provide a dedicated area for the import and export of high-value goods to and from KwaZulu-Natal. It is seeking to attract investment through industries that are critically dependent on specialised air freight capabilities that guarantee timely delivery.

  3.11  The agricultural export zone will provide land and facilities for the cultivation and export of high-value farming products and include pre- and post-harvest facilities. The agricultural zone and airport will then enable established and emerging farmers and co-operatives to become successful exporters of high-value perishable goods, benefiting both the local economy and population.

  3.12  To understand the impact of such transport and overseas production on the environment, we recommend to the Committee the a joint study between the University of Wales, Bangor and the University of Surrey led by Professor Gareth Edward-Jones et al on the Comparative Merits of Consuming Vegetables Produced Locally and Overseas.[21] Professor Edwards-Jones' study found that to accurately evaluate the impact on the environment of food produced at local, regional (European) and international level, all aspects of the production, packaging and transportation processes from food to table should be included in any assessment.

  3.13  This includes soil preparation (fertilisers, pesticides, water etc), machinery, heating and growth stimuli, mechanised packaging, refrigeration, storage and all types of transportation. It offers a more comprehensive picture of the true environmental cost of food, and highlights that even if a product from one location has high transport emissions, these may be offset if other aspects of the life-cycle result in lower emissions than the alternatives on offer.

SUMMARY

  4.1  Air transport is a vital component in the economic development of developing countries. It offers import and export opportunities to grow the economies, attracting inward investment and facilitating the export of goods to key international markets.

4.2  Without air transport services, the products of Blue Skies and the DTP agricultural export zone—and those of numerous other producers and co-operatives throughout the developing world—would not arrive at their key markets, denying economic growth opportunities to many countries and individuals.

    This is an interdisciplinary research project funded under the Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) Programme of the Research Councils, UK (ESRC, NERC and BBSRC).

British Airways

4 December 2008







20   http://www.dfid.gov.uk/casestudies/files/africa/ghana-ernest.asp Back

21   RELU-Rural Economy and Land Use. Results from the study include the collection of international comparative data from sites in the UK, Europe and Africa. The project combines the expertise of soil scientists, biochemists, health economists, agriculturalists, environmental scientists and sociologists from the University of Wales Bangor and the University of Surrey ( University of Surrey). Back


 
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