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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