France has been granted the go-ahead to outlaw short-haul domestic flights as part of an ambitious campaign to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
The French government has proposed the restriction as part of the Climate Law in 2021, focusing on flights between areas that would take less than 2.5 hours by rail to go between them, The Next Web reported.
France: First European Union Member To Ban Short-Haul Flights
Air travel needs to be controlled as significantly as possible when it comes to reducing carbon emissions to halt global warming.
To decrease France's emissions by 40% by 2030, the European Commission therefore this week authorized the decision to restrict short-haul domestic flights within the nation.
Three routes-Paris Orly Airport to Nantes, Paris Orly Airport to Bordeaux, and Paris Orly Airport to London-will be affected by the three-year restriction, according to Gizmodo.
However, according to the European Commission, there should be direct high-speed rail connections for train alternatives between destinations for routes to justify aircraft cancellations.
Future improvements in the rail services, with services operating at sufficient frequencies and suitable timings, in particular for the purposes of connecting flights, will enable these air routes to be banned," the Commission wrote in its ruling (per Yahoo! News).
More brief flying restrictions might be implemented in the future with the introduction of new generation double-decker trains by France's high-speed rail Train Grand Vitesse.
According to the same Gizmodo report, this is in addition to the nation's previously established and effective rail network, which includes more than 1,000 miles of high-speed railway tracks connecting key cities.
A First of Its Kind Short-Haul Domestic Flight
The European Commission's decision to overturn the prohibition is moving the initiative forward despite opposition from the Union of French Airports and the European division of the Airports Council International.
France's short-haul flight ban is the first of its type, marking a movement toward travel and climate change even though there isn't a set timetable for implementation just yet.
The Next Web claims that, in contrast to most other regions of the world, Europe has a productive train network that operates in countries like France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the UK, and more and may serve as a substitute for brief trips.
With only 2% of the EU's total energy usage coming from rail, the Community of European Railway claims that rail transportation is an energy-efficient means of transportation.
As a result, similar initiatives are being worked on in other nations. Germany suggested restarting the Trans European Express in order to speed up connections between European nations.
Additionally, the Czech Republic is collaborating with France to build additional 350 kph lines that connect Eastern Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Poland with Prague, Brno, and Ostrava.
Additionally, a 200 kph Intercity train that would shorten travel time from Amsterdam to Brussels by 30 minutes in 2024 has been been presented by a Dutch railway business.
The EU expects that additional nations will join the project to reduce carbon emissions in order to have cleaner, more sustainable journeys without sacrificing travel time as a result.
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