The British Air Line Pilots’ Association (BALPA) has noted a report to UK Parliament by the Climate Change Committee, which comes shortly ahead of the publication of the Government’s Jet Zero Strategy. BALPA states that the report “underplays the importance of contrails and their potential effects on global warming”. The report is right to note that despite uncertainties, the net effect of non-CO2 impacts “almost certainly contributes a warming effect to the climate. Best estimates suggest that they account for the majority of global aviation’s warming impact on the planet to date”.
BALPA has been campaigning for a comprehensive research trial into the non-CO2 effects of aviation – specifically contrails – and hopes for funding for such a trial as part of the Jet Zero Strategy.
Jeremy Thomson, Chair of BALPA’s Environment Study Group said: “BALPA wants to see a thriving future for the aviation sector in the UK, one that provides jobs for our members and mobility for our population. Yet we are in the midst of a climate crisis and have a moral and legal obligation to ensure our future is a sustainable one.
“Pilots have always been the ‘conscience’ of the aviation industry over safety, helping to create the safest mode of transport ever known. BALPA’s efforts in sustainability will be the conscience of the industry with respect to tackling climate change, ensuring effective solutions to preserve the undeniable benefits of air travel to humanity and business.”