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Climate Change Briefing Sheets

Climate Change

AirportWatch statement on the contribution of aviation to UK's total carbon emissions. It is either around 13% or 20%, depending how you calculate it.

The contribution of UK aviation to climate change

AirportWatch position on UK climate change targets and aviation

UK climate change targtes and aviation

For more information about the contribution that UK aviation makes to climate change. The contribution of UK aviation to climate change

Aviation Emissions and Climate Change - An Overview

IPPR: Plane Trading - policies for reducing the climate change effects of international aviation

How do planes compare to other means of travel

- for CO2 emissions

Just how damaging to the climate is air travel? Is it really much worse than going by trian? Or by car? And just how much carbon dioxide does my flight to Paris, or to New York, or to Rome produce, relative to my car use, or gas and electricity comsumption? Good figures are hard to find, but we try and throw some light on the subject.

How do planes compare to other means of travel

The Stern Review: the Economics of Climate Change

At the end of October 2006 Sir Nicholas Stern, a former economist at the World Bank, produced his review. This argued that the world has to act now on climate change or face devastating economic consequences, and that to do so now will cost less than if we wait.

The Stern Review - summary of key points

The Stern Review - Executive Summary (27 pages)

The Friends of the Earth Briefing on Carbon Off-setting

Friends of the Earth, does not recommend carbon offsetting for a number of reasons. It is being promoted as a relatively pain-free way of tackling climate change. A growing number of schemes now exist which claim that carbon-conscious individuals and businesses can compensate for the carbon emissions released by their activities by donating to various `green' projects from tree planting to renewable energy schemes in the developing world. Friends of the Earth, along with a number of other organisations, is becoming increasingly concerned that carbon offsetting is being used as a smoke-screen to ward off legislation and delay the urgent action needed to cut emissions and develop alternative low-carbon solutions.

Friends of the Earth Briefing on Carbon off-setting

The Government Guide to The Environment and Greener Living

Though not one of our Briefing Sheets, the Government has produced a guide for the "Environment and Greener Living". It can be found on the www.direct.gov.uk website. Their section on Air Travel and the Environment, and other relevant sections, can be found on the link below.

The Government Guide to The Environment and Greener Living

On Climate Change:

No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.
Edmund Burke
Irish orator, philosopher, & politician (1729 - 1797)

(6th September 2005)

In the Climate Change Section

Emissions Trading

Emissions Trading has been suggested as one of the answers to address increasing carbon dioxide emissions from aircraft. This section contains various materials that highlight the difficulties with this approach.