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EU plan to tackle aviation emissions unveiled

Sep 27 2005

Plans by the European Commission to include aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme have been given a cautious welcome by Friends of the Earth. But the environmental campaign group said that the Commission's "Statement of Intent", aimed at tackling climate-changing emissions from the aviation industry, doesn't go far enough and lacks urgency.

Friends of the Earth's aviation campaigner, Richard Dyer, said:

"The Commission's proposals are a welcome step in the right direction. But they won't be introduced for some time yet and don't go far enough. Global warming is the biggest threat the planet faces, and aviation is the fastest growing source of carbon dioxide. The massive growth in air travel is threatening to destroy any hope of tackling climate change. Politicians must wake up to the urgency of the threat we face and force the aviation industry to cut its emissions.

"We cannot afford to wait years for Europe to take action. Gordon Brown should announce an increase in Air Passenger duty in his next Budget statement, and the Government must urgently review its disastrous aviation strategy."

Last week the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change research published a report [1] warning that every household, motorist and business will have to reduce their carbon dioxide pollution to zero, if the growing aviation industry is to be incorporated into Government climate change targets.

Friends of the Earth is calling for:

• The EU to set target for cuts in emission from aviation industry (eight per cent by 2010 and 30 per cent by 2020 (based on 1990 levels);
• The EU to Introduce an EU-wide tax on aviation fuel;
• The UK Government to review its aviation strategy
• The Chancellor to increase Air Passenger Duty in his pre-budget statement later this year. Earlier this month the Swedish Government proposed a tax on all airline tickets
• The UK to reduce total carbon emissions by three per cent every year. Friends of the Earth's Big Ask campaign is calling on the UK Government to set legally binding targets to achieve this [2].

Notes

1. "Decarbonising the UK economy" Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, 21 September 2005

2. www.thebigask.com

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