Flying and politicians
I see from the front of today’s Guardian that Tony Blair is a spot of bother with environmental groups about his long haul flights. Tony likes to holiday in exotic locations at the homes of his friends, like Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees and that well known socialist, Silvio Berlusconi. Air travel contributes hugely to global warming – despite what Michael O’Leary tells you – and environmental NGOs believe politicians should lead by example. Tony doesn’t agree. He says science will somehow find a way to reduce carbon emissions caused by air travel. In the meantime, we should all continue to fly as usual. I’m not sure what Tony Blair has in mind, but zero emission or even low emission flying is a long way off. It’s an example of head in the sand politics.
At least, however, the issue is being debated in Britain. Here in Ireland, we don’t even examine how our politicians get to and from the Dáil. The overfull ‘temporary’ car park on Leinster Lawn reveals that the preferred mode of transport for most TDs is still the car. The idea that TDs would reduce their flying miles would be greeted with howls of laughter – by TDs. Free travel, after all, is one of the perks of the job. Personally, I wouldn’t care less if I never set foot in a plane again. Flying is now one of the most unpleasant and stressful experiences. The glorified cattle mart that is Dublin airport is a place I will visit only out of necessity .
At the moment I allow myself one long haul flight a year for political purposes. But even I have to admit that some conferences are avoidable and the work could be completed just as easily through phone conferencing.