Government's policy on aviation emissions flying out of control

4.09.27pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 3rd Apr 2006

"By doing nothing the Government's policy on aviation emissions is flying out of control."

Responding to the announcement by the Environment Minister Elliot Morley of the launch of the Government's own voluntary scheme to offset carbon emissions arising from official flights, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP, said:

"They have failed to tackle aviation emissions properly. Reports this weekend claimed that Britons are set to take more than half a billion flights a year by 2030, even higher than the doubling of flights predicted in the Government.

"Voluntary agreements must be welcomed if they are to raise awareness of the environmental damage caused by aviation. However, we must remember that they are a sticking plaster solution that does nothing to address the real problems of growing demand and growing emissions.

"Aviation must be part of the EU emissions trading scheme. However, the Government should not wait until its launch to act. An initial step would be to scrap Air Passenger Duty (APD) and replace it with an emissions charge on each aircraft taking off.

"The Liberal Democrats know that green taxes have to rise, while allowing other taxes to fall, to change behaviour. By doing nothing the Government's policy on aviation emissions is flying out of control."

Related Links:

DEFRA Press Release

Report on Air Passengers