Starting from 1 October, Flemish civil servants are forbidden to take the plane for work trips of less than 500 km or 6 hours travel over land https://t.co/CsvYWu3qn7
#ClimateAction
Proposals of 23 October 2017 [https://t.co/Q0Cg7OEDSX] by @JorisVDBroucke, Bruno Tobback @sp_a and @JohanDanen @groen and 4 july 2018 [https://t.co/n3zByehSz1] @JorisVDBroucke @IngridPira1 @NadiaSminate @ward_kennes, pointing at π
- responsibility of aviation for +- 5 % of emissions
- only 2-8 % of external βcostsβ are internalized for short and long distance flights
- no measures taken on EU or international level to reduce emissions
- EU ETS does not apply
- flights 20 times more impact than flights
- international market mechanism under negotiation and at the earliest applied by 2027
- European and international legislation will not be sufficient to get to Paris goals
- Flemish government @vlaamseoverheid uses +- 5 flights per day, frequently international flights
- Flemish government employees frequently fly to cities which can be accessed by train
- there are no initiatives to compensate flight emissions at governmental level
- the Flemish Climate Resolution points out that the Flemish Government wants to lead by example
Therefore calling for π
Leading by example, by:
- reduce emissions by prioritizing modern communication technologies
- systematically choose for train travel for destinations that can be reached in less than 6 hours / 500 km
- developing a compensation mechanism
Resolution approved unanimously on 4 July 2018 in parliament @vlaparl [https://t.co/8qWAdIi1WG]
Follow-up in March 2019 [https://t.co/cLTO1Efw5l] : air travel of public servants [https://t.co/Usfnlpc9Sk] and ministers [https://t.co/Usfnlpc9Sk], indicating cost and distance.
@vlaparl Some of the solutions to extend this to the private sector + citizens :
- More subsidies for trains and more taxation for air travel, so trains become the default cheapest option
- More night trains, as being discussed for example in Switzerland https://t.co/r1dGGBMgD1
@MichaelEMann @KHayhoe @GretaThunberg @AnunaDe. See also this thread on 2 recent news articles and 6 reports on fossil investments and (non-existing) divestment policies : https://t.co/Dmh9an3ijc. Lots of work to be done!
#ClimateAction #ClimateStrike #ClimateCrisis #climate
French version : https://t.co/nyhVhHfHZQ