Paris to Ban Short-Haul Flights to Reduce Emissions
Source: https://www.planetizen.com/news/2022/12/120436-paris-ban-short-haul-flights-reduce-emissions
Author: James Brasuell
France is continuing its policy efforts to limit commercial air travel by banning three major air routes—between Paris’s Orly airport and the French cities of Lyon, Nantes, and Bordeaux. Ben Adler reports for Yahoo News on the latest developments in the country’s efforts to minimize air travel for short flights or where rail travel is available. The policy, first proposed on the recommendation of a citizens' assembly, was cleared for adoption by the European Commission after opposition by French airports and airline lobbyists, explains Adler. Planetizen has checked in with France and other countries in Europe as they limit air travel in favor of rail travel in the name of climate policy on several occasions over the years. The French government has decided to abolish flights between cities that can be reached for less than 2.5 hours by train, as an attempt to decrease the carbon emissions in the country, which is a joint goal for all European Unions. The ban aims to reduce carbon emissions caused by planes in France and is part of the country’s overall effort to reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030. The new policy marks the first time a country has enacted a law prohibiting flights for environmental reasons.