Climate changing gases on the increase

As scientists increasingly warn of the impacts of climate change, official figures show that emissions of climate changing gases [1] in Britain continue on an upward trend.

Data released this week by the Office for National Statistics [2] show that 'greenhouse' gas emissions in 2004 were one per cent higher than in 2003. This continues an upward trend in emissions of almost two per cent since 1999 following a decline during the 1990s.

Gordon James of Friends of the Earth Cymru said:

"While politicians pay lip service to climate change, they are failing to implement policies that would address the problem.

"The scientific evidence is increasingly worrying and it is clear that, if we fail to reduce emissions of the climate changing gases in the near future, our children and grandchildren are likely to face significant problems as a result of extremes of weather.

"To date, the response of politicians has been little more than rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic as it heads for the icebergs. Radical policies are required that will bring about major improvements in energy efficiency, the large-scale development of cleaner sources of energy and an efficient and affordable public transport system."

The official data shows that there has been an increase in emissions in recent years in most sectors, such as manufacturing, power generation and households, but that the biggest increase has been in aviation. Since 1990 emissions from aviation have almost doubled.

Gordon James continued:

"The failure to increase taxes on flying displays more than anything else the lack of political will to take action on measures that would address the biggest problem we face this century. The cheap cost of flying and the failure to impose a tax on aviation fuel is entirely unacceptable considering the significant contribution aircraft now make to climate change."

Friends of the Earth's climate campaign, The Big Ask, is calling on the Government to introduce legislation that will commit it to making annual cuts in UK's emissions. This new climate law already has the backing of most MPs and 75 per cent of the public.

Notes

[1] The basket of six 'greenhouse' gases included in the atmospheric emission accounts are those covered by the Kyoto protocol: carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆).

[2] The data produced by the Office of National Statistics are calculated on a UK residents' basis. As such, they include emissions generated by UK households and companies in the UK and emissions from UK residents' transport and travel activities abroad. See: www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/enacnr0506.pdf