PARIS (Reuters) – French lawmakers voted late Saturday to abolish domestic flights on routes that could be covered by train in less than two and a half hours, as the government seeks to reduce carbon emissions even when the US industry air travel sinks global pandemic.
The measure is part of a broader climate bill that aims to reduce French carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 from 1990 levels, although activists accuse President Emmanuel Macron of overturning the previous promises of the bill.
The vote came days after the state said it would contribute to a recapitalization of Air France of 4 billion euros ($ 4,766 million), more than double its stake in the flag carrier, to strengthen the his finances after more than a year of COVID-19 travel brakes.
Industry Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher rejected criticism from the aviation industry that the recovery from a pandemic was not the time to ban some domestic flights and said there was no contradiction between the rescue and the project. of climate law.
“We know that aviation contributes to carbon dioxide and that due to climate change we need to reduce emissions,” he told Europe 1 radio. “We also need to support our companies and not let them down. by the way “.
Air traffic may not return to pre-crisis levels before 2024, according to McKinsey analysts.
Some environmentalists have said the bill does not go far enough. A citizens ’climate forum set up by Macron to help shape climate policy had called for the scrapping of flights on routes where the train journey is less than 4 hours.
The vote on Saturday night in the National Assembly was the first. The bill goes to the Senate before a third and final vote in the lower house, where the ruling party and Macron’s allies dominate.
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Reports by Richard Lough; edited by Barbara Lewis