SubscribePoverty campaigners the World Development Movement (WDM) today condemned the government for continuing to endorse a massive increase in flying in its progress report on the 2003 Aviation White Paper
WDM Director Benedict Southworth said:
"The government is showing its true colours on climate change and they are more Brown than green. The massive growth in flying this report backs will make it impossible to meet the government's target of cutting UK greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. But it is the world's poor who will pay the true cost of cheap flights, in the currency of climate change - increased floods, disease and famine.
The recent increase in air passenger duty, and the predicted effects of including flying in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme will have little effect. UK aviation emissions will still increase by 84 per cent by 2020, down from a 92 per cent increase if nothing was done. Stopping aviation growth is the key litmus test of the government's commitment to tackling climate change, and to international development - but it will require an environmental tax on flying and an end to airport expansion."
14 December 2006