Local Group Urges Gordon Brown to Stop Ignoring Aviation

Ealing Friends of the Earth flies PM in to Ealing Town Hall

Ealing Friends of the Earth urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown and local MPs Virendra Sharma, Steve Pound and Andrew Slaughter to stop ignoring aviation today at the weekend.

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.  MPs will have the opportunity to vote on the law when it is debated in Parliament later this month.

Ealing Friends of the Earth took the 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 the group says it needs strengthening if the UK is to play its part in tackling climate change.

"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’s ludicrous to pretend these emissions don’t exist, and unfair to treat aviation and shipping any differently to other sectors of the economy," said Claire James, Friends of the Earth supporter and local resident. "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."             

“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? I hope my MP, Andrew Slaughter, will use his vote to call for a strong Climate Change law that covers all emissions.”

The Big Ask, Friends of the Earth climate campaign is calling on Ealing MPs, Andrew Slaughter, Steve Pound and Virendra Sharma 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

All three Ealing MPs have been asked whether they will be voting for a strong Climate Change Law which commits the UK to cutting its emissions by at least three percent annually and which covers all emissions – including the UK’s share of emissions from international aviation and shipping.

April 10, 2008