Aviation growth = more emissions

Barely a week goes by without an overpaid executive from some beleagured corner of the aviation industry getting confused about industry growth, efficiency and emissions.

This week it's the turn of World Travel and Tourism Council president Jean-Claude Baumgarten, who urged immediate action on congestion at the UK's airports, saying that the UK needed “to get its act together."

The Council said that the aviation industry was worried that Britain’s “continued inaction to address deepening infrastructure constraints” was “seriously affecting the experience of millions of travellers across the world”, seemingly forgetting that promoting an 'expand or die' model for a carbon intensive industry was seriously affecting the experience of millions of people suffering the effects of climate change.

Honestly, it's just getting amusing now. It's as though BAA are ringing up all their mates in ludicrous industry junkets and begging them to put down the port and cigars for a minute and pitch into the fight to expand Heathrow.

"The current focus is on climate change and this industry cannot be demonised as the cause" declared Baumgarten. "It is quite simple - efficient infrastructure and less congestion will have a positive impact on the environment."

Not entirely true, particularly if the industry continues to grow at its current rate. Over to Baumgarten: "Our projection is 4 per cent growth per year over the next ten years, which is good."

Well it may be good for lining the pockets of wealthy industry lobbyists, but I doubt it's good for the climate. 4% industry growth is 4% emissions growth every year for a decade. No wonder aviation is the fastest growing cause of climate change.

"The only issue is whether the country is ready to handle the growth" claimed Baumgarten. Sorry mate, but the only issue is whether you're ready to handle the wave of protest that's going to hit any attempt to carry out your expansion plans.