Three busy weeks at AEF
5th November, 2009
AEF has been busy – so busy this update will have to cover the past three weeks rather than the usual two!
Tim has been discussing recent international talks about aviation and climate change with both the Department of Energy and Climate Change and with the environmental adviser to the UN’s International Maritime Organisation at its HQ in London. He also gave an update on the scientific understanding of aviation and climate change at a Royal Aeronautical Society conference in Manchester for aerospace professionals. Jeff, an AEF Council member, attended a meeting of the European Civil Aviation Conference, where he presented a number of papers including a commentary on the use of GTL fuels in aircraft. And Cait attended the launch of a new report from the Tyndall Centre (to which AEF contributed) on aviation emissions in the North West.
On airport issues, Tim chaired a meeting of an aerodrome consultative committee in Somerset, spoke on environmental issues at a gathering of the world’s airports and attended a week-long meeting of the UN’s Environmental Programme to finalise agreement on airport environmental indicators.
In terms of media activity, we’ve given comment on a new report from the Institution of Civil Engineers about the future of aviation and appeared on a Dutch radio programme considering aviation in the context of international climate talks. We’ve also provided comment on carbon offsetting for an exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.
New material on our website includes coverage of a report on taxation from the Green Fiscal Commission, an update on Air Passenger Duty, a news story on new guidelines on night noise from the World Health Organisation, a short paper on noise in tranquil areas, and an update on the UN International Civil Aviation Organisation’s preparation (or otherwise) for the Copenhagen climate talks.
Finally, we’ve also been advising our members – responding to an inquiry about noise metrics, preparing for our AGM and seminar on noise action plans, and putting together our autumn newsletter, which is being prepared to post this afternoon!