Demands regarding aviation
We demand a radical degrowth in aviation to safeguard a liveable future, including through the following measures at Belgian and European level:
- Ban private jets, short and ultra-short flights
That means flights within a 500 km radius, flights with less than 50 people on board, empty and domestic flights. - End subsidies and kerosene tax exemptions
End subsidies and state aid to airports and airline companies, as well as investments in aviation infrastructure. This also includes ending the preferential treatment for aviation in taxation, by taxing kerosine and plane tickets. Use the revenues from taxes to pay for loss and damage, and to subsidise long distance public transport. - Make public transport more affordable than flying
Invest in affordable and sustainable public transport for all, particularly long distance transport by rail, in Belgium and across Europe. This requires infrastructure alignments and subsidies. Cut taxes on train tickets to begin with, and raise awareness on the climate impact of flying. - Degrowair freight, by relocalising production chains and stimulating a circular economy, as well as shifting cargo transportation to sustainable means of transportation such as rail.
- Stop all expansion of airports in Belgium
Expansion in terms of capacity, and surface area such as in Liège-Bierset and Brussels-Zaventem should be stopped to halt the additional climate and health impact of an expansion. - Close down Flemish regional airports
Flemish regional airports should be closed, as suggested by the societal cost-benefit analysis commissioned by the Flemish government. - Preserve the health of airport workers, neighbours, flora and fauna
Limit noise pollution and adopt a flight curfew, meaning no more planes take off or land between 22h and 7h. Carry out permanent air and noise pollution measurements to ensure compliance with WHO recommendations, and apply the industrial emission norms on airports, too. - Provide a just transition for airport workers
The industry and the authorities should engage in negotiations and concerted planning with airport workers, in order to create sustainable, qualitative jobs with similar or better conditions and pay, and support workers in the transition towards those jobs. - Stop industry greenwashing, such as carbon offsetting
Carbon offsetting schemes and greenwashing talk of technological fixes allow pollution to continue because they distracts from the absolute need to reduce destructive air traffic emissions. - Ban ads for flying
Just like ads for cigarettes are banned because they harm our health, so should ads for flying be banned.
In a nutshell: We demand a radical degrowth in aviation, including by ending harmful practices such as private jets and short flights, excessive use of air freight, as well as subsidies and tax breaks for aviation. We should invest in affordable and sustainable public transport for all, instead of expanding airports and keeping flailing regional airports in Flanders open. We need to prioritise the well-being of our planet and our people, including those living around airports but also airport workers who deserve a just transition towards sustainable qualitative jobs. Moving beyond greenwashing practices such as ads and carbon offsetting, we need to increase awareness on the climate impact of flying and the great alternative modes of transportation we have instead.
General demands
Code Red aspires to invoke societal and systemic change in light of the climate and social crisis. With the climate crisis fully visible today, the time of inaction is over! These are our most important demands.
STOP WITH FOSSIL FUELS
A reduction in energy consumption on a global scale and a fast transition into renewable energy are vital to guarantee a livable future.
AFFORDABLE ENERGY FOR ALL
Energy poverty is unacceptable. Affordable energy is a basic human right for everyone. This also entails that we strongly need to reduce the excessive energy use by major consumers.
NO TO NEW FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTS
No to new climate bombs, such as pipelines running through East Africa or the Arctic, nor any unnecessary, polluting and destructive projects.
GOOD JOBS IN A CARBON-FREE ECONOMY
A new retraining plan for employees working in polluting industries is vital to bring about a righteous transition into a circular and carbon-free economy. Unions and employees need to be closely involved to ensure this transition is applied in an equitable manner.
Moreover, we need a collective work time reduction without loss of pay (WRT) and with compensary recruitment. This will enable us to reduce unnecessary production without destroying jobs, and to collectively regain control of our time and our lives.
RECOGNIZE HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND GUARANTEE DAMAGE FUNDS
Our dependence on fossil fuels causes conflict, violates human rights, and maintains (neo)colonialism. We need to recognize the responsibilities of multinationals and Western countries (the Global North) within its historical context. The damage done to vulnerable communities needs to be repaired.
TAX MAJOR CONSUMERS AND LARGE ASSETS
We need the funds in order to finance this transition. It is high time for major consumers and polluters to take responsibility by paying the indebted amount and distributing wealth. On top of that, the major grants provided by the government need to disappear.
INSULATE HOUSES AND BUILDINGS
This act lowers energy expenses and emissions of greenhouse gasses, whilst also creating many new jobs. We need major investments that prioritize renovations of badly insulated houses and of those in precarious situations. The human right to adequate housing, meaning affordable and well-kept homes, must be guaranteed for all. Social housing is crucial in achieving this goal.
BETTER AND AFFORDABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Large-scale investments in public transport and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure are vital to have affordable (if not free), sustainable and accessible public transport. We can make another improvement by banning car advertising campaigns and putting a stop to governmental subsidizing of company cars.