Just want to point out that it's literally impossible for the planet to “efficiency” its way to decarbonizing air travel. It's simply not true and in order to facilitate the emissions cuts that are necessary, we would need to convert every single airliner to biofuels—right now.
That isn't just me talking, @larsenrick, that's the International Civil Aviation Organization saying this:
“Achievement of carbon neutral growth at 2020 emissions levels out to 2050 would require nearly complete replacement of petroleum-based jet fuel”.
And that's only assuming the *best-case scenario* in terms of agricultural output, technological development, market conditions, and government policy all aligning around achieving that—which is not happening, @larsenrick. You're being misled by industry lobbyists.
Airlines often will cherry-pick data and obfuscate their true carbon footprint through many different ways of showcasing their data. For example, Spanish airline Iberia reduced emissions per seat by ~6% in 2017, but increased absolute emissions by 7%.
That's not progress, Rick.
*ALL* of the airlines in the graphic above increased their emissions, @larsenrick. There's been no improvement. We have to reduce air travel if we want to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
A core reason why you say you don't back a #GreenNewDeal.
But perhaps you buy into the corporate-created myth that we can both sustain growth in aviation and reduce emissions by just making things much more efficient because the aerospace industry buys into *you*, @larsenrick!
After all, reducing air travel isn't good business, right?
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A year ago, I set out to identify and examine the corporate donors to @larsenrick's campaigns to help demonstrate the connections between his centrist business-friendly attitudes with the sacks of cash he would receive from industry special interests.
With @CallForCongress challenging Rick again for 2022, I went back to basics and began looking into the donors again, now with greater knowledge of how to sort and analyze the data. What I've come away with is a much deeper understanding of just who is giving @larsenrick money.
I started with Rick's Climate Criminals last time, and that's where I'll begin again this time.
Altogether, 47 fossil fuel corporations and PACs—including Exxon Mobil and BP—have given #GreenNewDeal opponent @RepRickLarsen at least $433,699 since 2002.
This is perhaps one of the greatest examples of Rick endorsing positions or using rhetoric only when it's politically safe, convenient, and expedient to do so.
I've been researching Rick's record for months and months now. I can't tell you how many press releases, tweets, C-SPAN clips, articles, and records I've reviewed and let me tell you: this is the FIRST time he's EVER been this forthright about issues impacting people of color.
How many times has Rick Larsen mentioned Black Lives Matter? Zero. How many times has Rick Larsen mentioned police brutality in his two decades in Congress? Zero. How many bills in Congress does Rick co-sponsor that addresses police militarization or excessive use of force? Zero.