[ad_1]
Those eager to be on a plane again may have rejoiced at the opportunity to catch a flight with Singapore Airlines (SIA) again, after reports emerged that the SIA could launch three-hour ‘flights to nowhere’.
However, several environmental groups in Singapore have raised concerns that this will lead to unnecessary carbon emissions, thus contributing to the current climate crisis.
Said environmental activism group SG Climate Rally in a statement on its website Sept. 14: “It encourages carbon-intensive travel for no good reason” and “is simply an interim measure that distracts from politics and value shifts. necessary to mitigate the climate crisis “.
The group said it sympathizes with SIA workers on the ground who have seen wage cuts and reduced jobs, and instead urged SIA executives and lawmakers to turn to more “sustainable and equitable” alternatives.
“We can and must do better,” he concluded in his statement.
[[nid:501675]]A group of four has also launched a collaborative initiative for the public to contribute ideas on how SIA could generate revenue without going on the air.
A #SaveSingaporeAirlines form has been created and members of the public can submit their suggestions to help SIA “get it back”, and ideas will be collected and sent to SIA on September 20.
Chevon Low, who is one of the people behind the form and a member of the environmental nonprofit PM Haze, shared with The Straits Times: “We thought it would be more conducive for the public to contribute their ideas and provide to the SIA something they could work with instead of having flights to nowhere.
“SIA had previously committed to reducing their emissions and we want to work with them to achieve their sustainability goals.”
Ideas that have been featured so far include educational tours in the airplane cabin, gourmet dining experiences on airplanes, and even stays in First and Business Class seats, as well as suites.
When asked if the airline would consider the compiled suggestions, a SIA spokesperson told AsiaOne that it is considering various initiatives that would allow them to continue interacting with their customers and the public. However, currently “none of these plans has materialized.”
“We would also like to thank our customers and members of the public for their interest and comments. As indicated above, we will make an announcement at an appropriate time if we go ahead with any of the initiatives,” the spokesperson added.
[[nid:502046]]Although there will be emissions contributing to the greenhouse effect from the proposed flights to nowhere, the impact will be less than for normal flights, according to associate professor and climate scientist at Singapore Management University Winston Chow.
This is because the plane will be lighter with no cargo on board, just passengers.
Chow also claims that even if activated and operated 10 times a week, these destination flights contribute a small part of Singapore’s total carbon emissions – just 0.015 percent. Therefore, it should be more urgent to control emissions from other sectors that are higher contributors.
However, NUS environmental law researcher Eric Bea says that the operation of the flights must have a purpose. “The emissions generated by these flights to nowhere, while small, do not provide essential transportation services, unlike emissions that are productive such as the conversion of passenger aircraft into cargo, which can be used to move critical cargo.”
He added that onboard amenities like face masks, hand sanitizers and disposable food, if simply incinerated, would also generate more carbon emissions.
