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Vision needed for a positive future: Aviation 2040 scenarios

15th January, 2010

In November 2009 the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) published Aviation 2040, a series of scenarios for the possible future development of aviation in the UK considering a range of social, technological, environmental, economic and political factors. Following a meeting with ICE, AEF submitted a short response to the consultation on these scenarios, which will be used in inform ICE’s new strategic policy document on airport infrastructure.

Our response emphasises that we welcome forward-thinking discussion about aviation’s role in the UK. However, some of the numbers in the ICE scenarios should, we suggest, be revisited, as they appear to significantly underestimate the possible future percentage of UK emissions taken up by aviation. We also argue that futures in which aviation does not develop as rapidly as previously forecast could usefully be seen in a more positive light than in the provocatively titled scenarios presented in the consultation document.

Please click here to read AEF’s response to the ICE consultation on Aviation 2040.