Air travel emissions threaten UK climate strategy
Sun 06 February 2005
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Emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the aviation sector have nearly doubled in the last 13 years according to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics. The official figures also show that total UK GHG emissions fell by just 8.1% between 1990 and 2003.
Moreover, according to a new study - by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research for Friends of the Earth - growing GHG emissions from aviation would take up the entire emissions 'budget' for every sector of the UK’s economy by 2037 if current rates of growth are maintained. This would mean that all other sectors - including road transport - would not be able to release any emissions at all if targets are to be met.
The report concludes that there will be: "severe consequences for both the UK and the EU in terms of meeting their obligations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and if European governments continue to permit or, indeed, promote, historically high levels of aviation growth."
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