Japan’s eco unfriendly test f light
JAPAN has been accused of making ‘pointless’ test landings of its presidential plane in Scotland ahead of the Cop26 conference.
Japanese officials flew the Boeing 777 into both Edinburgh and Prestwick airports last week to decide which they preferred.
The plane, which can carry more than 300 passengers and is emblazoned with the Japanese flag, is used by the country’s emperor and prime minister.
It is understood it was flown almost 6,000 miles to allow pilots to decide which airport they wished to use for the conference.
A spokesman for the Japanese government confirmed that it was conducting ‘overseas operational training’ to ‘verify operational procedures at overseas airports’.
Anna Hughes, director of Flight Free UK, a movement which encourages travellers to pledge against taking flights to reduce carbon emissions, said: ‘When you see an administration who has taken the decision to fly an empty jet 6,000 miles in advance of a climate conference, that clearly demonstrates that they don’t understand what we need to be doing to solve the climate crisis.’
She added: ‘You can talk about policies you’re encouraging but it’s the action that speaks louder than words.’
The Japanese action also drew criticism from Magdalena Heuwieser of the Stay Grounded global network of 180 organisations promoting alternatives to flying to reduce emissions.
She said: ‘Japan’s test flight is just one in a series of pointless flights that could and should be cut immediately.’
António Guterres, the UN secretary general, last week accused airlines and shipping companies of avoiding their responsibility to cut emissions and urged them to commit to tackling emissions ahead of Cop26.
A spokesman for Japan’s foreign ministry said: ‘According to the Ministry of Defence, the ministry has been conducting overseas operational training of the special transport aircraft in order to verify operational procedures at overseas airports and improve the ability to carry out overseas missions.’