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Manifesto

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The ever increasing air traffic causes serious noise and air pollutions which have adverse health impacts on the populations overflown by aircraft at low altitude The number of people affected by these pollutions is also increasing despite the European legislation and improvement in technologies.

Communities near airports are also deeply concerned about the rise in CO₂ and non-CO2 emissions from aviation, which are a threat to the climate.

If the growth of aviation is not severely constrained, air traffic will largely negate the effects of national efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions. Residents’ organizations all over Europe believe that the growth of aviation must be limited.

UECNA summons the EU:

• Noise: to ensure a substantial reduction in noise nuisances caused by aviation, starting with a reduction of night flights with a view to a total ban on night flights to allow an 8-hour night;
• Air pollution: to reduce emissions from aviation (including UFP) to protect the health of people living under flights paths and near airports, and to prevent further environmental degradation;
• Climate: to force airlines, like all companies, to reduce their CO₂ emissions in the context of the Paris Agreement;
• Sustainable travel: to levy taxes on air tickets and jet fuel and to enhance comfortable train connections at competitive prices, so that many short European flights can be cancelled.

The voice for grassroots community groups in Europe

UECNA is unique.  It is the only Europe-wide organisation which represents grassroots airport communities at the highest level in the European Parliament and at the European Commission.  It also speaks for residents at ICAO, the aviation industry’s main international decision-making body.

It is run by representatives from grassroots organisations from across Europe.

If you join, you get the chance to:

• Tell the rest of Europe about your airport and benefit from others’ experience
• Join Europe-wide campaigns
• Influence the European Union and international aviation organisations
• Receive regular information on new developments
• Be part of a growing movement to tackle the local impacts of aviation
• Meet fellow campaigners from across Europe

UECNA is represented on:

• ICAO (International Civil Aviation Authority)
• European Commission’s Noise Experts Group
• EASA (European Union Safety Agency)
• EAEG (European Aviation Environmental Group)
• T & E (Transport & Environment)

The more members we have, the more resources and the more influence we will have.  Our voice will be stronger.

Do join us!

Find out how to become a member or friend

Speaking for the grassroots to key decision-makers.

UECNA recommendation 1
Under the current business mode aviation does not pay its full external costs. It needs to do so.

 Aviation brings economic, social and cultural benefits. But aviation also causes problems for people and the planet. These downsides of aviation impose an economic cost on society.

Internal link to elucidation

UECNA recommendation 2
Aviation already pays a significant amount of tax but it remains under-taxed and should pay its full and fair share of tax.

The aviation industry currently pays a significant amount of business tax but remains under-taxed. As a result, European governments are losing billions of euros in income each year. It also distorts the market:  demand for flights is unrealistically high due to low prices. There are a number of fiscal measures which could be used to increase tax revenues.

UECNA recommendation 3
To recognise that fewer leisure trips by air need not damage the wider economy as people would spend their money in other ways which would boost businesses and create jobs.

If too many taxes and charges were imposed on aviation, the industry might struggle to function properly. That would not be good for the wider economy. But that need not happen. An increase in the cost of air travel, unless it was excessive, is unlikely to deter business people from flying. If it meant people made fewer leisure trips, that is unlikely to damage the wider economy as people will spend their money on something else.

UECNA recommendation 4
More government investment is put into rail in order to persuade a significant number of air passengers to switch to rail.

Rail could be a viable alternative to many short-distance air journeys. All too often at the moment rail can’t compete with air on cost. More government investment in rail could bring economic benefits as the external costs of rail are half those of air. However, if the slots of substituted flights were used for new long-haul flights it would increase the external costs.  An improvement to night trains is also important.