Brown's Aviation Tax Will Fail To Stop Massive Increase In Emissions

WDM director Benedict Southworth said:

"The reality is that nothing that the Chancellor announced today will stop a massive increase in aviation greenhouse gas emissions.

"Gordon Brown's timid measures to reduce the environmental impact of aviation cannot be reconciled with his rhetorical stand on global poverty. Climate change is not just an environment issue it's a matter of global justice. It is rich countries like the UK that are responsible for climate change and aviation is the fastest growing element in our rising greenhouse gas emissions. But it is people in the world's poorest countries that bear the brunt.

"The increase in Air Passenger Duty will merely reduce the rate of increase in carbon dioxide emission by 2010. Before today, carbon emissions from aviation were set to increase by 35% by 2010. They are now predicted to increase by 31%."