Category Archives: UECNA

A round trip flight from Amsterdam to the south of France costs the same as a round trip ticket to the Dutch – nearby – island of Terschelling. How is that possible? Part of the answer can be found in the enormous subsidies that go to the aviation industry. Ties Joosten from the Dutch platform […]

On the 11th of August a group of climate activists disrupted the delivery of aviation fuel to Arlanda airport outside Stockholm, Sweden by blocking 14 tank cars of fossil fuels from entering the station. Activists of the local campaign Flyglarm Arlanda peacefully trespassed into the fuel station, to challenge the expansion of the airport. The […]

The environmental associations German Federal Agency for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), the German Transport Association (VCD) and the German Association for the Protection of the Environment (DNR) have welcomed the proposal of Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze to raise the aviation tax as an urgently overdue step. ‘The particularly climate-damaging air traffic should […]

After 2020, the Dutch government has allowed Schiphol to grow to a maximum of 540 thousand flight movements per year. Growth is only permitted if the aviation sector can demonstrate that the nuisance to the immediate environment is reduced, for example due to quieter and cleaner aircraft. Citizen’s organisations think minister Van Nieuwenhuizen’s proposal to […]

A thorough study among 191 primary school children who live near Schiphol Airport shows that  high concentrations of ultra-fine particles from aircraft can effect health seriously. When the wind blows in the ‘wrong’ direction children with respiratory complaints suffer more and use more medication. Complaints include shortness of breath and wheezing. These are the conclusions […]

UECNA signed an open letter to the EU leaders, which you can download here.

Because politicians are usually rather reluctant to take unpopular measures, an increasing number of concerned citizens are taking the initiative to save the climate. There are large demonstrations everywhere for the environment and against climate change. This also means less flying. Psychologically, the term flying shame (from the Swedish flygskam) is interesting. Media reports more […]

Belgian UECNA Member Sterrebeek 2000 is a member of the Burgerforum Luchthavenregio (Brussels/Zaventem Airport). The Burgerforum has developed a 12 point plan which is to ensure a more sustainable development of aviation and airport(s) in Belgium. They have been presenting the plan to Mayors and local politicians in the airport region in the run up […]

Although night flights from Schiphol take place within the noise standards, in practice citizens are too often alerted by aircraft that fly over. So the number of these annoying flights must be greatly reduced. That is the opinion of a majority of the House including government parties D66 and ChristenUnie, as revealed during a debate […]

The Netherlands will present a proposal for an EU aviation tax to the members’ finance ministers at their next meeting, diplomats told POLITICOPRO. The Netherlands sent around a position paper on carbon pricing and aviation tax as base for raising levies on aviation to help meet Europe’s climate goals. UECNA welcomes every measure to discourage air […]