Madam, - Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus of the Association of European Airlines writes that it is "entirely misleading to suggest that aviation is now the fastest-growing source of CO22 emissions" on the basis that "air travel accounts for only 2 per cent of CO22 emissions globally" (September 26th).
This is a highly disingenuous statement for several reasons. In the first instance, the baseline figure of 2 per cent refers to a 1999 study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) using data from 1992. We have done a lot of flying since then and today's figure is much higher (over 4 per cent for Europe). Secondly, it is future growth in the baseline figure that is the real concern. While Mr Schulte-Strathaus refers to possible increases in aircraft fuel efficiency, he ignores the larger effects of a predicted growth in passenger numbers. IPCC concerns over aircraft emissions of other greenhouse gases and the effect of emissions at high altitude are similarly omitted.
- Yours, etc,
Dr CORMAC O'RAIFEARTAIGH, Lecturer in Physics, Waterford Institute of Technology.