Flight Ban Gave Us an Insight
Air travel is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases so the recent quiet skies brought about by Iceland's volcanic eruption is an opportunity to reflect on how air travel has become an accepted part of many people's lives. The vast numbers of stranded passengers and exotic lists of holiday destinations were indications of the scale of the industry and its passengers' carbon footprints. (...read more...)
Around 64% of UK flights are taken for leisure purposes and overwhelmingly by the wealthiest in our society. I know I was not alone when, under a clear, vapour trail-free sky, I voiced my relief at the absence of scores of buzzing helicopters and the alarming, low-level screech of military jet fighters. Bird song never sounded better in those few peaceful days. Action on climate change usually comes with costs and benefits so, for example, in the long term, home insulation reduces energy bills and carbon emissions. Likewise, less air travel will improve our overall quality of life. But will people use this wake-up call to reduce their flying and will business people replace unnecessary trips with phone calls and video-conferences? We will all benefit if they do.
Food security is an increasingly serious issue in our globalized economy. Britain imports 40% of all its food and the flying embargo exposed the fragility of our global food systems. Supermarkets couldn't stock mangetout peas and cut flowers from Kenya or baby sweet corn from Brazil. Fortunately, working to its own 'just-in-time' agenda, the Forest of Dean's allotments and vegetable gardens are bursting with leeks, kale, spring cabbage, rhubarb, purple sprouting broccoli - called, I noticed on a recent TV food programme, 'posh broccoli' - and daffodils and tulips.
For those following the University of East Anglia climate change e-mail affair, an independent enquiry has found "absolutely no evidence of any impropriety whatsoever". Sceptics please take note.
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