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Matt Cooper: Capping Dublin passenger numbers really only way to meet Cop targets

Sustainable aviation fuel is dismissed by industry figures as unviable, leaving us with the unpopular but inescapable fact that we need to control burgeoning passenger numbers

Dublin Airport: flying is responsible for anywhere between 2 per cent and 6 per cent of global emissions, depending on whose estimates you believe. Picture: Fergal Phillips

Eamon Ryan flew back from COP 28 in Dubai into Dublin Airport this week. The Minister for Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport was one of 32 million passengers to use the airport during 2023, a record number and the maximum allowed under planning restrictions. Ryan was one of the main players in the EU campaign to get a declaration in favour of phasing out the use of fossil fuels.

Ryan, like many others, used the ...