Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
Introduction: perspectives on
sustainability and aviation
Paul Upham
S
TRUCTURE
OF
THE
TOPIC
To w a r d s S u s t a i n a b l e Av i a t i o n
discusses notable trends and issues relating to sustain-
ability and aviation from a variety of academic, industrial and political perspectives.
The topic is split into three parts. Part 1 is authored by UK academics involved in
researching different aspects of the aviation industry. It sets out the main contempo-
rary environmental, social and economic issues associated with aviation. Part 2, with
a broader range of authors, describes some approaches to mitigating and reducing
aviation-environment problems. Part 3 addresses the contentious nature of aviation
growth. Where Parts 1 and 2 provide relatively extended comment on aviation and
sustainability, Part 3 allows commentators from a range of sectors and perspectives
to express their opinions more succinctly. In this way, we hope that readers will
understand more, not only of some of the problems of aviation, together with some
of the latest thinking on associated mitigations and perhaps even solutions, but also
of the disparate opinion on the subject. By including the views of the industry and
of representative non-governmental organizations (NGOs), we aim to have been as
inclusive of the range of opinion as is reasonably possible. The remainder of this
introductory chapter sets the scene by considering the implications for aviation of
differing approaches to sustainability and to the regulation of aviation impacts.
T
HE
SIGNIFICANCE
OF
AVIATION
During the course of the 20th century, air transport has become one of the world's
most influential industries. Aviation is a major direct and indirect employer - it facili-
tates the expansion of world trade and provides opportunities for travel and tourism.
