Government fails to rethink aviation policy

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander has failed his first major climate test by sticking to plans for unsustainable airport expansion.

Despite calls from environmentalists, academics and politicians from all parties, Mr Alexander failed to call a halt to further airport expansion. These plans include building a third runway at Heathrow.

Research by the Tyndall Centre (PDF†) and the Environmental Change Institute shows that the growth in flights could make the Government's climate change targets impossible to meet.

The Government's policy of building four new runways to accommodate massive growth is short-sighted and cannot be reconciled with tackling climate change and environmental protection.

Joint letter to the Times by leading politicians, academics and senior environmentalists

The Government is relying on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme to reduce aviation's climate change impacts. This won't be enough on its own (PDF†) . Friends of the Earth says the Government must:-

1) Heed calls for a Rethink of the Aviation White Paper: no airport expansion
Douglas Alexander must reconsider the Government's airport expansion plans. Building new runways is a flawed policy if aviation growth cannot be permitted because of its climate impacts.

2) Introduce an annual Air Passenger Duty escalator
Air Passenger Duty is paid by all passengers who buy an airline ticket. Gordon Brown's recent increase is welcome but it isn't enough. Annual increases would:

• Start to reduce the growth in flights before ETS can be introduced
• Address the industry's unjustified £9billion annual fuel tax and VAT exemptions

3) Publish a Plan ‘B' in case aviation cannot be incorporated into the EU ETS
This should include introduction of VAT on air tickets and agreeing kerosene taxes with other countries.

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

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