10.4 Environmental Sustainability
273
With aviation as a mode of transport now cheaper than ever, it is one of the most
common ways for us to get around, with passenger numbers expected to double by
2050. Given such a vast number of people opting to fly, GHG emissions from this
mode of transport has increased by a staggering 87% since 1990 (Pojani and Stead
2015). Considering there will be such a substantial increase in use, it is unlikely
that we will be able to increase its environmental sustainability in the short term. As
such, we must seek ways to limit and reduce its environmental impacts as much as
we can.
Currently, over 130 airlines use “frequent flyer programmes” that offer incentives
for flying regularly (De Boer and Gudmundsson 2012). By introducing legislation
to reduce these incentives to fly, we can cut down on the number of people flying
and reduce pollution. This could be complemented with further incentives for other
modes of transport, such as carpooling, lowered public transport costs, and improved
bicycle paths on our roads.
How can the world transit to a greener and environmentally friendly transport
system?
Management of Invasive Species and Conservation of Biodiversity Our planet is
now more traversed than ever before. With cheap, long-haul flights, and powerful
cruise ships capable of transporting us and our possessions great distances, we can
now visit exotic locations. With this unprecedented capability for long-distance
travel, it has allowed our human society to establish an intricate web of trade
across the entire globe. This has allowed humanity to flourish, and has impacted
beneficially on our health, economic, and technological development.
However, while it has brought many advantages to our modern-day living
and way of life, it has also brought a number of profound consequences to the
environment. Through this intricate web of trade and travel, our transportation
enterprises have allowed, either intentionally or unintentionally, the transmission
of foreign wildlife from one region to another, usually where it would not naturally
exist. This transportation of foreign wildlife can have profound impacts on local
ecosystems.
If a given species establishes itself in a new environment, it is known as an
invasive species. An invasive is defined as a species of plant, fungi, or animal
that is not native to a specific region or location in which it exists, but has the
capacity to establish in such a way that causes damage to the local environment,
human health, or human economy (Guisan et al. 2013). The capability of such a
species to establish itself in an environment is associated with possessing a specific
trait or combination of traits that allow them to outcompete native species. This
competition can be related to growth rates and reproduction, or a more direct version
of competition through predation, where the invasive species either has no natural
predator or predates easily on the local wildlife.
273
With aviation as a mode of transport now cheaper than ever, it is one of the most
common ways for us to get around, with passenger numbers expected to double by
2050. Given such a vast number of people opting to fly, GHG emissions from this
mode of transport has increased by a staggering 87% since 1990 (Pojani and Stead
2015). Considering there will be such a substantial increase in use, it is unlikely
that we will be able to increase its environmental sustainability in the short term. As
such, we must seek ways to limit and reduce its environmental impacts as much as
we can.
Currently, over 130 airlines use “frequent flyer programmes” that offer incentives
for flying regularly (De Boer and Gudmundsson 2012). By introducing legislation
to reduce these incentives to fly, we can cut down on the number of people flying
and reduce pollution. This could be complemented with further incentives for other
modes of transport, such as carpooling, lowered public transport costs, and improved
bicycle paths on our roads.
How can the world transit to a greener and environmentally friendly transport
system?
Management of Invasive Species and Conservation of Biodiversity Our planet is
now more traversed than ever before. With cheap, long-haul flights, and powerful
cruise ships capable of transporting us and our possessions great distances, we can
now visit exotic locations. With this unprecedented capability for long-distance
travel, it has allowed our human society to establish an intricate web of trade
across the entire globe. This has allowed humanity to flourish, and has impacted
beneficially on our health, economic, and technological development.
However, while it has brought many advantages to our modern-day living
and way of life, it has also brought a number of profound consequences to the
environment. Through this intricate web of trade and travel, our transportation
enterprises have allowed, either intentionally or unintentionally, the transmission
of foreign wildlife from one region to another, usually where it would not naturally
exist. This transportation of foreign wildlife can have profound impacts on local
ecosystems.
If a given species establishes itself in a new environment, it is known as an
invasive species. An invasive is defined as a species of plant, fungi, or animal
that is not native to a specific region or location in which it exists, but has the
capacity to establish in such a way that causes damage to the local environment,
human health, or human economy (Guisan et al. 2013). The capability of such a
species to establish itself in an environment is associated with possessing a specific
trait or combination of traits that allow them to outcompete native species. This
competition can be related to growth rates and reproduction, or a more direct version
of competition through predation, where the invasive species either has no natural
predator or predates easily on the local wildlife.