Attach environmental strings to any bailouts for airlines

From: June Graham, Huddersfield Local Greenpeace Co-ordinator, Rosemount, Huddersfield.

IN the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the aviation industry is lobbying hard for public bailouts.

Greenpeace Huddersfield Local Group, alongside climate action charity Possible, is calling for any state support for airlines to include conditions to:

■ Protect workers so there are no pay cuts or lay-offs due to the Covid-19 crisis.

■ Protect the climate – the airlines need to start cutting their emissions to meet the globally agreed climate targets, without relying on carbon offsetting.

■ Ensure airlines pay their fair share of taxes in the future, for example by introducing a Frequent Flyer Levy so that those who fly the most, pay the most.

In the Huddersfield local area, the fewer planes going overhead and the cleaner air is a good reminder of how much more peaceful and pleasant the world could be if we reduce the amount we fly.

However, a return to ‘business as usual’ could wipe out hopes of this way of living in a matter of weeks.

Virgin Atlantic owner Richard Branson is worth a reported £4.2bn – and yet he’s asking the Government for £500m, his staff to take unpaid leave and 3,000 to lose their jobs.

A few weeks ago, EasyJet distributed £174m to shareholders, and is now also asking staff to take unpaid leave.

What’s more, aviation is virtually the only sector which refuses to reduce its overall emissions, and its plans for continuing growth jeopardise the UK’s ability to meet our climate commitments.

Last week, we saw that French finance minister Bruno Le Maire announce that the €7bn offer package of state loans and bank loans to the French airlines was a “not a blank cheque” and stressed that enhanced sustainability policies would be linked to it.

Greenpeace Huddersfield calls on our local MPs Jason McCartney and Barry Sheerman to write to the Chancellor, and call for these conditions to be attached to any bailouts to the airlines to help protect the environment.

Right now, people are understandably doing everything they can to protect each other and support NHS and other workers on the frontline.

But once we’re through, the climate and nature emergencies will remain. Let’s make sure that the Government’s response to this awful health crisis also helps to create green jobs, and decarbonise our economy.