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29 Nov 2002
The UK's record as a leader on tackling climate change will be "dealt
a hammer blow" if the Government proceeds with plans for controversial
new and expanded airports across the UK. The news comes as the Royal
Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) launches its report on
the environmental effects of aircraft in flight.
Friends of the Earth research, based on the Government's own data,
shows how Ministers' airport expansion plans mean that climate change
emissions from the UK aviation industry will soar by 350% from 1990
to 2030. To make up for this, cuts of at least a fifth (20%)
will be needed from the rest of British businesses, households and road
transport. [1]
Despite the Prime Minister's call for substantial reductions in climate
changing emissions by 2050 [2] the Government has failed to identify
the consequences for climate change of its proposed aviation expansion
- now revealed by Friends of the Earth - in its current consultation
on the future of air transport, due to end on 30th November.
Ministers have not proposed any actions to respond to the challenge.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution is one of the main causes of dangerous
climate change and aviation is the fastest growing source. The Government
has forecast that the CO2 from aircraft using UK airports is expected
to rise to 70-80 million tonnes by 2030 [3]. In 1990, the year
used for calculating reductions under the Kyoto Protocol, emissions
were 17 million tonnes; in 2000 they were 35 million tonnes. By contrast,
RCEP has said that the UK's total emissions of CO2 must fall by at least
60% by 2050 (from 1990 levels) - a target referred to by the Prime Minister.
Growth in airports and air travel will make it even harder for the UK
to meet this target and the pressure of doing so will fall on other
parts of the economy.
The Government's data shows that if the UK is to stay on track to
meet the target of a 60% cut, emissions from industry, people's homes
and road transport would have to fall by an extra 53-65 million tonnes,
if aviation emissions increase as forecast by the Government [4]. This
is a rise of 20 per cent - or about two and half times the savings achieved
by higher fuel taxes, the climate change levy on high energy users in
industry and Government support for renewable energy combined. The Government's
air transport consultation documents make no reference to this as an
issue of great importance for many other sectors because of the additional
costs that will be imposed on them.
Paul de Zylva, aviation campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
"The UK's reputation for action on dangerous climate
change will be dealt a hammer blow if Ministers go ahead with
their airport expansion plans. To make up for the dramatic
increase in climate changing gases from civil aviation,
British businesses and householders will have to
cut their energy use and pollution even more.
"The aviation industry pays no tax on the fuel it uses and
is now the fastest growing cause of climate change. Why should the
rest of British business and society have to pay
the penalty, just so that airlines and airports
can continue to grow while ignoring their
environmental responsibilities? This is part of the price of
Ministers' plane crazy obsession with airport expansion.
Rather than add to the problem, the Government
should act to ensure that the aviation industry faces up to climate
change and the other problems it causes."
[1] Government forecasts suggest that aviation emissions of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, are likely to rise to 70-80 million tonnes by the year 2030. Emissions from domestic flights are included within the Kyoto Protocol international agreement on climate change, but emissions from international flights are not. This is likely to change. Countries are beginning to negotiate a successor agreement to Kyoto and it is probable that all emissions from aviation will be included within it.
No target yet exists for UK emissions of carbon dioxide for 2030.
Yet the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) has said
that the UK's CO2 emissions should fall by 60 per cent from 1990 levels
by the year 2050. This implies an annual reduction of over 1.5 per cent
- this is equal to a 45 per reduction by 2030.
On the assumption that all aviation emissions will be included within
a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, Friends of the Earth has
calculated the effect that the Government's forecast increase in CO2
emissions from air travel will have on the scale of reduction required
from other sectors - in order to cut total emissions by 45 per cent
by 2030 and keep Britain on track to meeting the Royal Commission's
60% target.
It is important to note that these calculations only apply to emissions
of carbon dioxide (CO2). Yet aviation is also responsible for emissions
of other climate changing pollutants including nitrogen oxides (NOx)
and water vapour (H2O). These are particularly damaging to our climate
because they are emitted at high altitudes and are also likely to increase
in total, so the necessary cut in emissions from other sectors may need
to be higher than suggested above.
[2] Speeches by Tony Blair include the following on climate change:
- AAccording to the best climate
change models, if we want to halt the process of global warming, we
would need to cut global CO2 emissions by 60% or more. So Kyoto was
only a start.@ 'The environment:
the next steps', 6th March 2001
- "The greatest threat to our environment today is climate change.If
there is one immediate issue that threatens global disaster, it is the
changes in our atmosphere.If we are to continue to grow, we must reduce
the impact of growth on the environment. Some commentators estimate
that we'll need a tenfold increase in the efficiency with which we use
resources by 2050 only to stand still.@
>Richer and greener'
speech to the CBI / Green Alliance, 24th
October 2000
[3] The Government has forecast that with its airport expansion the
carbon dioxide pollution from aircraft using UK airports is expected
to rise to 79,770 tonnes by 2030 (Halcrow Technical Note 'Year 2000
CO2 Forecasts' 6th October 2002)
[4] See DETR (2000) 'Climate Change: the UK programme'.
A FULL TABLE SETTING OUT THE CALCULATIONS BEHIND THIS RELEASE IS AVAILABLE FROM FRIENDS OF THE EARTH MEDIA UNIT
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
