Local group urges climate law changes (Source: Press Release)

THAME and Chinnor Friends of the Earth urged Gordon Brown and Boris Johnson MP to stop ignoring aviation, by drawing attention to flying’s carbon emissions.
The group gathered outside Thame town hall on Saturday, April 4, with a larger-than-life, Gordon Brown, covering his eyes while playing with an aeroplane ? “hoping aviation emissions will just go away.”
The group wants the Government?s new Climate Change Law to cover all sources of carbon dioxide emissions, including the UK?s share of emissions from international aviation and shipping.
Boris Johnson, MP for the Henley constituency, will have the opportunity to vote on the law when it is debated in Parliament later this month.

Chinnor and Thame Friends of the Earth was taking action as part of a national day of action in support of The Big Ask, Friends of the Earth?s campaign for a strong Climate Change law.
Friends of the Earth has led the campaign for a strong Climate Change law through The Big Ask. The law, which is set to be introduced this summer, is groundbreaking but needs strengthening if the UK is to play its part in tackling climate change, says FOE.
The Government?s proposed law does not count the UK?s share of emissions from international aviation and shipping. Friends of the Earth believes it is ludicrous to pretend these emissions don?t exist, and unfair to treat aviation and shipping any differently to other sectors of the economy. The Government already publishes figures on aviation emissions and there is no practical reason why they can not be included from the outset. A way of including shipping emissions should be worked out as a matter of urgency, says FOE.

FACTS:

Aviation is a fast growing source of carbon dioxide emissions. Government figures published in January 2008 showed that aviation accounted for 6.4 per cent of UK carbon emissions.
The impact of aviation emissions is double that of carbon dioxide alone because of other gases that planes pump out at altitude.

The Big Ask, Friends of the Earth?s climate campaign, is calling on Boris Johnson to vote for a strong climate change law that:
* Includes the UK?s share of emissions from international shipping and aviation
* Commits the UK to cutting its emissions by 80 per
cent
* Ensures steady progress by cutting emissions by at
least 3 per cent a year

Chinnor and Thame Friends of the Earth Maureen Dyroff, supporter and local resident said:
“It?s crazy for Gordon Brown to leave out climate changing emissions from planes and ships from the new Climate Change Law but that?s what he is doing. Why should our local industry and businesses be held to account for their carbon emissions but not the aviation industry? We hope our MP, Boris Johnson, will use his vote to call for a strong Climate Change law that covers all emissions.”