41% of French support lifetime limit of 4 flights per person to combat climate change: Survey

A recent poll found that 41% of French citizens surveyed support a lifetime limit of four flights per person due to concerns regarding climate change.

A survey conducted by the research firm the Consumer Science and Analytics Institute revealed that a startling number of individuals supported strictly limiting airplane travel to combat climate change.

When citizens were asked whether they would back limiting each individual to four flights over their entire lifetime, 41% stated they would. Support for the restrictions was higher among younger age groups. Of those surveyed between the ages of 18 and 24, 59% supported the proposal.

The survey, conducted in July, interviewed 1,010 French citizens 18 years and older.

The restrictions proposed by engineer Jean-Marc Jancovici would apply to travel for business and pleasure purposes.

While the majority of respondents did not support the extreme proposal, 64% stated that they would be willing to reduce their air travel over the medium term due to environmental concerns.

In an effort to reduce carbon emissions, earlier this year, France signed into law a ban on domestic, short-haul flights that can be completed in less than two-and-a-half hours by train. The ban does not include private jet travel.

Due to the ban, several airplane routes were terminated, including flights connecting the Paris-Orly Airport to Bordeaux, Nantes, and Lyon. According to the European Federation for Transport and Environment, the three retired air routes would reduce emissions by 0.3%. In May, the organization's aviation director, Jo Dardenne, called the ban a "symbolic move" that will have "very little impact on reducing emissions."

France's transport minister, Clement Beaune, stated last month that the country would seek support from the European Union to set a minimum cost for flights in an effort to end cheap airfare and deter travelers.

"It's not a question of multiplying by ten the price of tickets. Why? Because there are also people who take a plane once in their life, who don't have much money - it's also a freedom, a means of transportation that can't be reserved for only the rich," Beaune said. "I think it's a discussion we have to have at EU level."

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to lower the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, PBS reported. In order to do so, Macron stated, "We need to succeed in reducing emissions by 5 percent per year over the period 2022-2030."

Macron aims to reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels from 60% to 40% by 2030. More than 60% of France's electricity is derived from nuclear energy.

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