The government this morning admitted that “without further action” to
curb pollution from planes, the flagship aviation climate change target that was
adopted and championed by the last government will be missed. (1)
In the
Transport Secretary’s formal response to the aviation recommendations of the
Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the government’s independent climate
advisers, there is an admission that:
- On current levels of airport capacity, and without any additional expansion, the last government’s flagship aviation target (of ensuring that aviation emissions return to 2005 levels by 2050) cannot be met – even based on the most optimistic assumptions about efficiency gains and existing available technologies
- “Without further action” the UK will not have any chance of meeting the 2005 target if there is any growth in flying whatsoever.
- So far – despite the Prime Minister’s commitment to stop new runways in the South East – the government has not re-committed to the Labour target of keeping aviation emissions to 2005 levels by 2050. Greenpeace believes that immediately committing to this target is now an essential test of the government’s commitment to curbing carbon dioxide pollution.
- Based on the government’s own admission today, Greenpeace believes that the only realistic policy solution must be an immediate moratorium on any airport growth anywhere in the UK, including in passenger numbers.
Greenpeace campaigner, Richard George, said:
“This refreshingly
honest admission shows that for all its bluster the aviation industry is simply
unable to bring its pollution levels under control. Ministers must now commit to
a moratorium on aviation growth combined with serious investments in affordable
clean alternatives to flying.”
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Notes:
(1)
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/response-ccc-report/ccc-response.pdf (page
10)
