Britain will not be able to meet its goals on climate change without curbing the demand for air travel, according to an Oxford University report.
The government is aiming for a 60% cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
But the report’s authors say the UK is becoming “air dependent” and government policies on increasing air travel contradict that stated aim.
However, the British Air Transport Association said targeting UK air travel alone would have little impact.
The government has said it wants aviation included in the next round of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Carbon dioxide emissions from aviation doubled during the 1990s while those from the rest of the economy fell.
Currently, aircraft produce about 5.5% of UK emissions.
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2 responses so far ↓
1 Peter // Oct 21, 2006 at 10:25 pm
The CO2 content of air is 0.037% & the contribution made by man’s activities is 3.5%.
This means the contribution to the CO2 level from man globally is 0.0035%.
Air travel is 5% of this which is 0.000175%,
So, we could stop all air transport globally and save the CO2 level increasing by 0.000175%.
Does this really merit all the fuss or are we being sold a political lie by this lying and deceitful government?
2 Mother Ecclesiastica // Oct 22, 2006 at 5:10 am
If there were less foreigners living in Britain, then there wouldn’t be so many people wanting to fly home for holidays and so less aeroplane emissions….
Also less students and workers from o’seas would make another dramatic reduction in incoming and outgoing flights.
Less British being allowed to migrate to other countries would also reduce emissions.
That’s three sensible ways of reducing carbon emissions which wouldn’t affect trade in a negative way. The GNP would have to be protected.
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