Targets to cut aviation pollution
June 20, 2005
New targets to reduce the environmental impact of air travel are being launched by the UK's aviation industry.
Airlines, airports and aircraft manufacturers aim to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases produced by new aircraft over the next 15 years.
Companies want aircraft built within that period to produce half of the carbon dioxide they currently emit.
Air travel is expected to triple over the next 30 years, amid concerns about its impact on the environment.
The new objectives have received the backing of most of the UK's aviation companies.
There will also be similar targets to reduce the noise pollution caused by passenger aircraft in future.
BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said environmentalists were likely to criticise the plan for not seeking to reduce the amount of aircraft in Britain's crowded skies.
They had wanted larger taxes imposed on air travel, he said.
"But the companies behind the strategy say its radical - and will deliver improvements to the environment."
'Fly now, grieve later'
The targets come as Brendon Sewill, a former Treasury adviser, said the government's current policy for dealing with aviation emissions would not solve the problem of pollution.
In "Fly now, grieve later", a study published by the Aviation Environment Federation, Mr Sewill said Britain was "the world's worst climate change culprit" after the US as far as aviation was concerned.
He said there were a number of ways that the UK could combat aviation pollution.
His suggestions include increasing the air passenger duty airport departure tax, imposing VAT on air tickets, abolishing duty-free sales and and ending the planning system to discourage airport expansion.
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