Government to offset official flight CO2 emissions
Tue 04 April 2006
View all news
The Government has announced that it will offset the carbon dioxide emissions caused by official flights by ministers or civil servants. Meanwhile, the Green Party has called for 'climate health warnings' to appear on airline tickets and advertising.
All Government departments will, in future, offset the emissions arising from official trips abroad by making payments to agencies working on reducing carbon emissions in developing countries.
Following the announcement, The Independent reported that the Climate Change Minister, Elliot Morley, called on British tourists travelling abroad to become more aware of the environmental impact of their journeys and to consider following the Government's lead by offsetting them.
At the Green Party spring conference, a motion called for legislation for air tickets to carry 'cigarette-packet style' health warnings drawing attention to the impact of flying on climate change.
The London Evening Standard reported that the Green Party motion also called for airlines to be required to work out the CO2 emissions per person for each flight and to print this on tickets and advertisements.
The LowCVP Secretariat members avoid flying where practical but offset flight emissions on other trips.
Related Links
The Independent news story
The Green Party website link
< Back to news list