Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-09-07-Speech-4-105"
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"en.20000907.2.4-105"2
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".
I welcome the communication from the Commission, which underlines the fact that air transport is rapidly having an increasing impact on the environment at local, regional and global level. Clearly we cannot allow this trend to continue and must rapidly adopt measures to reverse it. What is at stake, indeed, is the protection of the environment, the quality of life and the health of Europeans.
We could make serious progress if we implemented the Commission’s proposal to apply the principle of ‘reward the best and punish the worst’ to air transport in Europe, drawing a clearer line of demarcation between the various activities on the basis of their quality in environmental terms. Although the Commission’s communication describes a number of possible instruments, such as economic incentives and more stringent standards, it does not set out any measurable objectives or timetables. Nor are there enough practical measures to encourage aviation to pay more respect to the environment. So it is essential to set objectives and to respect timetables, so that the aviation industry, the airlines and the users can adapt to the legislative measures in good time.
That is the exercise on which the European Parliament has embarked. Its report tackles several of the problems caused by air transport. In particular, it looks at the problem of noise, which is an increasing source of concern to the people of Europe. According to a study conducted under the EU’s fifth environmental action programme, 80 million people in Europe are exposed to noise levels that scientists regard as intolerable, while another 170 million are exposed to disturbing noise levels. Recent studies also show that there is a link between aircraft noise and sleep disturbance, health and learning ability.
People who live close to airports are particularly affected by the noise of night flights. The ICAO has initiated a process of revising noise levels. The European Union must support that process and, if necessary, the Commission will have to take additional measures if the ICAO does not reach a satisfactory agreement. There are two ways to reduce aircraft noise: at source, thanks to more stringent certification standards and plans for phasing out aircraft that do not comply with them, and by land-use planning measures near airports.
Then there is the problem of gas emissions. It has been admitted that emissions from aviation account for about 3.5% of the global warming produced by human activity. According to forecasts, these emissions will rise by 3% a year over the period 1992 to 2015. So it is both urgent and vital to take measures to reduce aircraft emissions.
The list of pollutants from air transport is a long one. This alarming fact should encourage us to take measures very quickly. That means the Member States must give the Commission a clear negotiating mandate so that at the time of the 33rd session of the ICAO Assembly in 2001, it can vigorously pursue the environmental and transport policy objectives."@en1
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