Government Must ‘Rethink’ Aviation Policy, Warns Green MEP
27 June 2006
The airlines’ rapid growth – flights are set to double by 2020 and triple by 2030 – is fuelling an increase in noise and air pollution, poor health, the destruction of natural habitats and heritage sites, and climate change, said Dr Lucas today.
“Aviation is the fastest growing contributor to climate change and the Government simply must clip the airlines’ wings,” she said.
“If we are to stave off the worst impacts of climate change fairly we must cut UK emissions by 80 to 90 per cent in the next few decades: that will simply not be possible unless we reduce emissions from flights.
“Instead of pursuing the outdated model of ‘predict and provide’, approving new runways at the airlines’ behest, the Government should stop concreting over the countryside and take immediate steps to force the airlines to reduce their emissions.”
The MEP, who has drafted proposals for a range of measures to cut airlines’ greenhouse gas emissions to be voted upon in Strasbourg next week, has joined Labour, Tory and Lib-Dem politicians, as well as groups including Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace , the RSPB and the CPRE, in supporting the initiative.
‘Rethink!’, which calls simply for the Government to reverse its support for the airlines spelt out in its Aviation White Paper of 2003, is the brainchild of AirportWatch, an alliance of environmental organisations and community groups from across the UK. It was launched today with a series of letters and advertisements in the UK media.
Dr Lucas added: “For the Government to support continued growth of the aviation industry is a frank admission that it would rather lose the battle against climate change – and write off the rights of the millions living near airports and under flight routes – than call time on cheap stag nights in Riga, weekend breaks in Rimini and freshly-picked Kenyan flowers in European supermarkets.”
ENDS
Airport Watch’s Rethink! campaign
