The Coronavirus pandemic dominated the news in such a way that other subjects do not attract much attention – even if it is a global emergency: the climate change. And there was this week a message, which is as surprising as consequences: On Thursday, the Court of Appeal, the second highest court in the United Kingdom, climate activists, which had complained against the Heathrow airport gave.
The plaintiff had not complained that the approval of the government for the Expansion of the airport with a third runway legal. The reason is that In the expansion program of the Convention of Paris, adopted by the United Nations of 2015 in the fight against climate change, no mention. A track should only be built if the expansion program is consistent with the climate Convention.
of The Heathrow airport will bring the judgment before the Supreme court – the government, however, remained silent. However, no matter how the Supreme Court decides as the last instance, the decision of the Court of Appeal as a signal, and the potential to be a rethink in the planning of future economy projects, not only in the United Kingdom, but in the whole of Europe, also in Switzerland.
the economy and politics but even now, thoughts of how you deal with a clear aim of conflict in the future.
The court based its decision solely on the grounds that the obligations of the country were not considered to climate protection. While the debate over climate change is often dominated by negative headlines and quite pessimistic can vote now: What is decided at the international level in terms of climate protection, is more than just lip service. The obligations under the agreement can have a direct impact on national politics and economy – and you also need to.
Similar Decisions as in Heathrow are also elsewhere. The airport of Zurich, meets with in this country, to the limits of its capacity and would like to create with a variety of measures, such as a runway extension, a remedy. At the latest after the entry into force of the comprehensive revision of the CO2 act, which was made for the implementation of the Paris climate targets could occur in a case of Heathrow, also for local projects. The airport would have to so in addition to the needs of local residents, the impact on compliance with the Paris targets in all of the planning from the beginning and deepened to include.
This is not to say that such projects have no future. Economic and policy but even now, thoughts of how you deal with a clear aim of conflict in the future. The common reasoning – and not only in Switzerland – is: you don’t Want to remain economically on track, it needs flights. And more and more. But the question now is only when one considers the objectives of the climate.
the economy and politics need to plan with foresight and invest in new technologies that reduce the damage that air travel causes. There are a lot of: Biofuel, electric tow vehicles, electric flying, improved the approach of variants, more efficient air traffic control. This is all possible, but it needs to be wanted. And enshrined in law. A positive effect on growth, which is so created is really a sustainable manner.
Created: 28.02.2020, 23:08 PM
