|
 new report from the General Accounting Office indicates
that commercial jet aviation makes a significant contribution
to the problem of global warming. The study further warns that
emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases can be
expected to increase as commercial jet travel continues to grow
worldwide.
 The report
was released by Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.), Ranking Democratic
Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The GAO study was done at Ober-star's request.
In his
request, Oberstar pointed out that aviation is the fastest-growing
segment of the transportation industry, growing at a rate of
some five percent annually, and this has brought with it an increasing
concern over aviation's impact on the environment.
"On
the one hand, the industry's growth has created concerns about
noise, air, and water pollution. On the other hand, environmental
concerns have increased the time and cost of development and
imposed restrictions on flight patterns, airport use, and airport
capacity," Oberstar wrote.
The GAO
found that, in the United States, aviation emissions accounted
for about three percent of the greenhouse gases and other emissions
that contribute to the global warming phenomenon. While this
percentage is small in relative terms -- other transportation
sources contribute 23 percent, and other industrial emissions
account for 41 percent -- aviation emissions are potentially
significant for a number of reasons:
- Jet aircraft emissions are deposited directly
into the upper atmosphere and some of them have a greater warming
effect than gases emitted closer to the surface, such as automobile
exhaust.
- The primary gas emitted by jet aircraft engines
is carbon dioxide, which can survive in the atmosphere up to
100 years.
- Carbon dioxide, combined with other exhaust
gases and particulates emitted from jet engines, could have two
to four times as great an impact on the atmosphere as carbon
dioxide emissions alone.
- The growing demand for jet air service is
likely to generate more emissions that cannot be offset by reductions
achieved through technological improvements alone.
- The report recommended further research into
the impact of jet exhaust on the global atmosphere to help guide
the development of new aircraft engine technology. It also called
upon governments to reduce emissions through improved air traffic
control and regulatory and economic incentives.
The report
released today is the first in a series of studies on the environmental
impact of aviation stemming from Oberstar's request.
Text of
the report (GAO/RCED-00-57) is available on line at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/rc00057.pdf.
|
