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Climate Change Campaign |
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Oxford Groups ask politicians to stop ignoring aviation On
Saturday 5 April 2008 in Carfax, passers-by saw a larger than life
Gordon Brown
covering his eyes while playing with an aeroplane - hoping that
aviation emissions will just go away. Oxford Friends of the Earth (FoE)
and World Development Movement (WDM) joined forces as part of the 'Big
Ask' National Day of Action to ask Gordon Brown and local MPs Andrew
Smith and Evan Harris to stop ignoring aviation.Karl Wallendszus, of Oxford FoE, said, "We want the Government’s new Climate Change Law to cover all sources of carbon dioxide emissions, including the UK’s share of emissions from international aviation and shipping, which are not included in the current proposed law." Andrew Smith and Evan Harris will have the opportunity to vote on this law when it is debated in Parliament later this month. Aviation is a fast growing source of carbon dioxide emissions. Government figures published in January 2008 showed aviation accounts for 6.4 per cent of UK carbon emissions[1]. The impact of aviation emissions is double that of carbon dioxide alone because of other gases that planes emit[2].  Kevin Meaney of Oxford WDM said, “It’s crazy
for Gordon Brown to leave out climate changing emissions from planes
and ships from the new Climate Change Law but that’s what he is doing.
Why should our local industry and businesses be held to account for
their carbon emissions but not the aviation industry? We hope our MPs,
Andrew Smith and Evan Harris, will use their votes to call for a strong
Climate Change law that covers all emissions.”The Big Ask is calling on MPs to vote for a climate change law that: • Includes the UK’s share of emissions from international shipping and aviation • Commits the UK to cutting its emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 • Ensures steady progress by cutting emissions by at least 3 per cent a year. The Day of Action received extensive coverage in the local media, including on ITV Thames Valley News, BBC Radio Oxford, Fox FM, Jack FM, Radio Cherwell and the Oxford Mail. Notes: 1. www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics 2. Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (2002). The Environmental Effects of Civil Aircraft in Flight (see www.rcep.org.uk/aviation.htm).
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