France’s ban on short-haul flights with rail alternative endorsed by European Commission

Rod Janssen aviation, carbon emissions, climate change, climate policy, energy transition, GHG emissions, national policies, transport December 10, 2022

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Published December 10, 2022

2 thoughts on “France’s ban on short-haul flights with rail alternative endorsed by European Commission”

Andrew Warren says:

December 11, 2022 at 17:13

Whilst excellent news, the caveats still being imposed by the European Commission( para 4) remain deeply worrying.
Twenty years ago, as a member of the then European Commissioners’ permanent advisory committee, I was asked to prepare a policy paper on options to reduce climate emissions from European aviation.
One of my proposals was to ban short haul aviation journeys where there are viable rail alternatives. I vividly recall the director general, Francois Lamoueux, telling me that this concept would never be approved by the European Commission, as it would be in breach on internal trade grounds.
Sounds as though that too much of that prejudice still prevails.

Reply
1. Rod Janssen says:
  
  December 11, 2022 at 19:17
  
  Thanks so much, Andrew, for this background information. Let’s hope someone out there will deal with those caveats. But I assume you are right about the prejudice still prevailing. Maybe the experience in France will give some confidence to others. France does have the advantage of very “viable rail alternatives.” But many others also do.
  
  Reply