SubscribeCommenting on the publication of the draft climate change bill, anti-poverty campaigners from the World Development Movement (WDM) today called for aviation and shipping emissions to be included in the bill if it was to have any serious impact on limiting the UK’s carbon emissions.
"The poorest countries in the world make effectively no contribution to climate change, but it is those same people who face the worst consequences. 160,000 people are already dying every year due to climate change-related diseases and billions will face drought, floods, starvation and disease. The UK emits 48 times more CO2 per person than the world's poorest countries. It is only just that the UK does its fair share in cutting emissions," said WDM director Benedict Southworth.
"The government has got its head in the clouds if it thinks that this bill will seriously tackle climate change when it fails to include aviation emissions. Aviation is our fastest growing source of emissions. It will be impossible to make the necessary cuts if we do not include aviation in the targets,
"The government has presented itself as a leader in tackling climate change and global poverty but, as it stands, the bill will not deliver. Without year on year annual targets to reduce emissions, this government will simply pass the buck to future governments."
12 March 2007