AirportWatch is an environmental group which campaigns for sustainable air transport through reduction or redistribution of demand, determined by either timing or location (
Demand Management
Demand management is a planning methodology used to forecast, plan for and manage the demand for products and services. This can be at macro-levels as in economics and at micro-levels within individual organizations. For example, at macro-leve ...
approach).
History
AirportWatch was formed in 2000.
In the run-up to the 2007
Camp for Climate Action
The Camps for Climate Action are campaign gatherings (similar to peace camps) that take place to draw attention to, and act as a base for direct action against, major carbon emitters, as well as to develop ways to create a zero-carbon society. C ...
near
Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport (), called ''London Airport'' until 1966 and now known as London Heathrow , is a major international airport in London, England. It is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system (the others be ...
,
BAA sought an injunction, banning members of groups supporting AirportWatch, such as the
National Trust
The National Trust, formally the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, is a charity and membership organisation for heritage conservation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, there is a separate and ...
and
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network, founded in Canada in 1971 by Irving Stowe and Dorothy Stowe, immigrant environmental activists from the United States. Greenpeace states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth t ...
, from attending the protest. The airport operator won a reduced injunction naming senior members of AirportWatch and
Plane Stupid
Plane Stupid is a UK-focused group of environmental protesters who state their aim as wanting to see an end to airport expansion for what it sees as "unnecessary and unsustainable" flights. It is a loose association of autonomous regional gro ...
, but not including AirportWatch or its members.
AirportWatch is a member of the
Stop Climate Chaos
Stop Climate Chaos is a climate change coalition of environmental and international development nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that was formed in September 2005. The coalition ran the "I Count" campaign in 2006–07 and organized 'The Wav ...
Coalition.
Campaign Issues
These campaign issues have been identified by AirportWatch:
*
Climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...
effect of the carbon dioxide emissions
*
Noise
Noise is unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud or disruptive to hearing. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrations through a medium, such as air or water. The difference arise ...
complaints by local communities near
airports
An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface ...
* Environmental impact near airports
* Growth in low-cost holiday flights affecting the UK economy
* Possible environmental effects from aviation
* Effectiveness of
carbon offsetting
A carbon offset is a reduction or removal of emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. Offsets are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e). One ton of carbo ...
in removing from the atmosphere
See also
*
Air transport and the environment (United Kingdom)
The environmental effects of aviation in the United Kingdom are increasing due to the increasing demand for air travel in the country. In the past 25 years the UK air transport industry has seen sustained growth, and the demand for passenger ai ...
*
Carbon offsetting
A carbon offset is a reduction or removal of emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. Offsets are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e). One ton of carbo ...
*
Climate Change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...
*
Environmental direct action in the United Kingdom
The modern environmental direct action movement in the United Kingdom started in 1991 with the formation of the first UK Earth First! group for a protest at Dungeness nuclear power station. Within two years, there were fifty Earth First! groups an ...
*
Flying Matters
Flying Matters was a pro-aviation coalition in the United Kingdom. Members included tourist organisations, airlines, aerospace manufacturers, trade associations, airport operators, growers and others. Formed in June 2007, they have issued briefin ...
a pro-aviation expansion commercial coalition
*
Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport (), called ''London Airport'' until 1966 and now known as London Heathrow , is a major international airport in London, England. It is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system (the others be ...
*
Stop Stansted Expansion
London Stansted Airport is a tertiary international airport serving London, England, United Kingdom. It is located near Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, England, northeast of Central London.
London Stansted serves over 160 destinations acr ...
References
External links
AirportWatch website
Aviation organisations based in the United Kingdom
Transport advocacy groups of the United Kingdom
2000 establishments in the United Kingdom
Organizations established in 2000
Airports in the United Kingdom
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