COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Denmark has announced that it will abolish fossil fuels used in all domestic flights by 2030, in an attempt to achieve its climate goals.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in a speech on New Year’s Eve, emphasized her desire to eliminate all fossil fuels used in domestic flights, while admitting that plans are still being developed to achieve her goals.
Denmark aims to reduce total carbon dioxide emissions by 70 percent by 2030, compared to those recorded in 1990.
“To travel is to live, and that is why we fly,” Frederiksen stated while explaining her strategy.
“When other countries in the world are too slow, then Denmark must take the lead and raise the bar even more,” Frederiksen declared.
Frederiksen admitted that it would be challenging not to operate fossil fuel-powered domestic flights, even if research teams, as well as companies, tried to achieve this goal.
At the same time, the airline Airbus announced its intention to accelerate the development of hydrogen-powered aircraft, with plans to use them by 2035.
Denmark strives to achieve its climate goals by using hydrogen from renewable energy for aircraft.
Still, it is not known if the technology would be in place by 2030.
Sweden also announced that it would cease fossil fuel-powered domestic flights by 2030, and the Scandinavian nation also hopes for green international flights by 2045.
At the beginning of 2021, the Swedish government declared its intention to increase airport charges for aircraft that are considered to contribute to serious pollution.
Meanwhile, France is making progress in banning domestic flights when trains can travel to the same destination in less than 150 minutes.
The steps are likely to affect travel between Paris and Lyon, Bordeaux and Nantes, among other cities.
Source: sn.dk