The Anonymous Widower

France Bans Short-Haul Flights To Cut Carbon Emissions

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.

This is the sub-heading.

France has banned domestic short-haul flights where train alternatives exist, in a bid to cut carbon emissions.

And these are the first two paragraphs.

The law came into force two years after lawmakers had voted to end routes where the same journey could be made by train in under two-and-a-half hours.

The ban all but rules out air travel between Paris and cities including Nantes, Lyon and Bordeaux, while connecting flights are unaffected.

The article also says, that critics have described the latest measures as “symbolic bans”.

I wrote France Passes A Law That Prohibits Domestic Flights, For Trips That Can Be Made By Train In Less Than Two And A Half Hours, when France passed the law.

This was my conclusion of that post.

I feel that, it could be quite likely that new technology, faster trains and targeted marketing will reduce the number of internal flights in the UK.

The same forces will probably do the same in several countries, including France.

So do we really need a law?

Eventually trains and planes will find an equilibrium between their market shares.

May 23, 2023 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , | 1 Comment

‘Grave Concern’ As Sales Of Low Emission Cars Fall

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.

This is the first two paragraphs.

Sales of low emission cars in the UK have fallen for the first time in more than two years, the industry has said.

The decline comes as overall sales of new cars continued to fall, dropping 4.9% in June from the year before.

Confusing policies and the end of subsidies are being blamed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Many of the reasons given in the article are probably valid, but I think there could be two main types of car owner.

  • Those who care about the environment and would be happy to buy a low emission car. Many have probably bought one already!
  • Those who say, I’m not being told by the government what type of car to buy.

The second group will have lots of reasons.

  • I’m not buying a low performance car.
  • When China, India and the United States stops burning coal, I’ll think about it.
  • My last car lasted twenty years and my current on is only four years old.
  • I live in Surrey and it will be a pain driving to Manchester to see United play!

I also suspect that many hope that the new Tory Prime Minister might change the rules to get votes at the next General Election.

Conclusion

As a non-driver, I don’t care!

 

 

July 4, 2019 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , | 1 Comment