Report Published

Friends of the Earth (FOE) published new research from the UK Tyndall Centre for Climate Change that claims that carbon dioxide reduction targets for the EU and UK will be impossible to meet if aviation grows at current rates. FOE wants the UK Government to immediately increase passenger fees, remove fuel tax exemptions and to pursue emissions charges with the EU.

The Centre asserts that carbon dioxide is a primary contributor to global warning, and that transportation is the only sector where emissions are projected to grow. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was agreed to in 1992. Developed countries agreed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases below 1990 levels in the Kyoto agreement in 1997.

They conclude that aviation could use the entire emissions budget for all sectors of the EU economy by 2040 and all sectors of the UK economy by 2037.

The research report warns of "severe consequences for both the UK and the EU in terms of meeting their obligations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions if European governments continue to permit, or indeed promote, historically high levels of aviation growth."

"The biggest question this generation faces is how we tackle climate change. The Government must support the Climate Change Bill and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by three per cent a year. This will need tough action on aviation, as well as other sectors. This report paints a devastating picture of the future impact of uncontrolled aviation growth for the environment. Decision makers in both the UK and the EU must face up to the fact that tackling climate change means tackling the demand for aviation," said Friends of the Earth aviation campaigner Richard Dyer.

EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said this week that aviation would probably be included in the EU emissions trading scheme, but not until 2012 when the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol ends.

Whether you believe them or not, at least they walk their talk. The folks at the Tyndall Centre also study their own travel habits to reduce their own emissions and contribute to renewable projects.

FMI: www.tyndall.ac.uk, www.foe.co.uk