Abstract

Peter McManners gets underneath the well-known facts about the unsustainable nature of the aviation industry and argues for fundamental change to our travelling habits. The first book to transcend the emotional debate between the entrenched positions of those who are either for, or against, flying, this groundbreaking work argues that aviation is stuck in a stalemate between misguided policy and a growing imperative to deal with its environmental impact and that there is now little possibility that the transition to sustainable flying can be a smooth evolution.
Peter McManners works as an author, consultant and Visiting Fellow of Henley Business School, Reading University. He is a member of the Institute for Green Economics and has published extensively on business and environment.
'All human societies have had to face challenges of one sort or another. But today's challenges are perhaps greater than any faced in the whole of recorded history. Failing to rise to the climate challenge has very serious consequences as to avoid irreversible climate chaos we must hold average global temperatures to no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels, which requires immediate, rapid and widespread action. We long-industrialised nations have a historic obligation to set a lead. Although many of us are already doing a great deal, there remains however a curious phenomenon of "airflight carbon blindness" where individuals who meticulously change light bulbs, use the bus and recycle, still find it just too easy to hop on an cheap air flight. Similarly national and even international frameworks often ignore flying. We urgently need to talk about flying and this book certainly gets the conversation started!' Paul Allen, Project Director, Zero Carbon Britain 'McManners could have titled his important new book 'Fly and Be Sustainable', with its bold and provocative vision for transforming the aviation industry from a laggard of the fossil fuel age to a linchpin industry of the future. Building on the industry's rich entrepreneurial tradition, his proposals could very well usher in a third golden age for the industry and provide a crucial step for a sustainable future. Whether this book disturbs, enlightens, angers or provokes into action, it provides a much-needed jumpstart to the debate on sustainability and deserves a wide audience.' John E. Reardon, Editor, International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education 'For those who live by air travel, McManners sets out a tough agenda for a sustainable aviation industry.' Nigel Winser, Executive Vice President, Earthwatch