Solar-powered plane flies in the face of climate change targets

The world’s first solar-powered aircraft made its first hop into the air during testing last week, but a commercial application for the technology is too far off to help meet impending emissions targets; according to the government’s advisers on climate change, the introduction of more fuel-efficient aircraft will allow an additional 138 million passengers to use British airports in 2050 without threatening existing climate change targets.

The Committee on Climate Change today announced that the building of a third runway at London Heathrow can go ahead without jeopardizing a commitment to reduce aviation emissions to below 2005 levels.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Aircraft are becoming more efficient, but not quickly enough to justify huge increases in flying.”

Is the future of flying electric?

The Committee on Climate Change is correct to note that Passenger planes are getting larger, lighter and more efficient in a bid to reduce costs and their emissions, but an environmentally-benign aircraft is still some way off.