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CARBON EMISSIONS IN BRITAIN |
Britons are world’s biggest
emitters of carbon from air travel
12 October, 2007
Britons produce more carbon emissions
from air travel per head than fliers
from any other country.
A major reason for this is the British
people’s liking for low-cost airlines.
The average carbon emission for each
British flyer is 603 kg (95 lb) a
year, which is more than a third
higher than that of Ireland – which is
in the second place with 434 kg – and
more than double that of the United
States at 275 kg, in the third place.
A report by Global TGI, a market
research company, which studied 20
countries with high rates of air
travel, also blamed wetter summers and
easier access to air travel for the
increasing greenhouse-gas emissions by
British air travelers.
Geoff Wicken, a spokesman for Global
TGI, said, “There are clearly a number
of reasons for it, some of which
include the British weather and people
wanting to get away from that, some of
which are to do with our being an
island. But, the rapid growth in
low-cost flying has undoubtedly been a
factor.”
The figures are bound to put the
British government under renewed
pressure to come down hard on air
travel to meet its targets to reduce
emissions. Though the government has
pledged to cut carbon emissions as
part of its fight against global
warming, it has, at the same time,
supported airport expansion.
The British government has come under
persistent pressure from climate
campaigners to restrain airport
expansion. The campaigners have called
for flights to be included in the
European Union’s Emissions Trading
Scheme.
According to the British government’s
figures, air travel accounts for 6.3%
of the United Kingdom’s carbon
emissions.
Several studies have shown that the
aviation industry is rapidly becoming
a major contributor to global warming.
Over the past 30 years, the number of
air passengers in Britain has
increased five-fold.
Scientists say that carbon emissions
in the atmosphere are at least twice
as harmful to the environment as those
at sea level.
Overall, US adults have the biggest
annual travel ‘carbon footprint’ in
the world at 7.8 tonnes, more than
double that of France’s 3.7 tonnes,
which stands at number two. Britain
comes third, with 3.1 tonnes.
The study by Global TGI calculated air
emissions by adding up the number of
long-haul and short-haul flights
taken. The road emissions figures were
arrived at by determining the amount
of fuel consumed.
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