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There has been an interesting irony to the news this week regarding air travel. On Monday, the Commons Environment Audit Committee published their report on Reducing Carbon Emissions from Transport. While it rightly praised the Government for a number of inititatives (such as being the first in Europe to introduce a vehicle tax based on carbon dioxide emission levels), it was scathing about progresss on air travel. Air travel is the fastest-growing source of carbon emissions, and is particularly damaging given the altitude at which the gases are deposited. For the Government, however, air travel is a sacred cow. Its reaction to the Committee's suggestion of raising air travel tax - that it would hit the poorest passengers - was particularly lame. On that basis, the Government presumably plans to scrap the flat tax on car fuel. I can't see Gordon going for that one. Then, on Thursday, suspected terrorists made an impact that environmentalists can only dream of. By planning an attack on airlines, they have unwittingly cut dramatically the UK's air transport emissions. It is not clear yet whether the current security scare will mean a tougher regime at airports in the long term. But it would certainly be ironic if security was the cause of reduced air travel, rather than the need to protect the environment. Seriously, the Government has a creditable (but by no means perfect) track record on climate change policy. The fact that David Cameron has had to respond in this area suggests that the Government is having some success. It also indicates that it is rising up the public's agenda. The Government should be looking to maintain the high ground by doing much more. The absence of any movement on air transport emissions damages its environmental credentials and looks increasingly ludicrous. No one is suggesting that it will be easy - unilateral action would be economically damaging - and it's unlikely to be a vote-winner. But on this one, the Government has a duty to consider the well-being of future generations.
Is terror the answer to climate change?
11.8.06 09:53