3 September 2008
Aviation emissions
We welcome Stewart Stevenson's comments acknowledging the continuing challenge of growing car use (Record amount of traffic on the roads, The Herald, August 26).
The same government figures also reveal a 3% growth in air passengers, the highest ever recorded. We are, therefore, very disappointed that the Scottish Government was recently quoted as suggesting that international aviation will not be counted in Scotland's climate targets.
International aviation is already responsible for around 15% of Scotland's climate emissions and is the fastest-growing source of emissions. Ignoring this sector will seriously devalue the government's promise to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, as well as creating confusion when it is eventually included.
advertisement
If the Scottish Climate Change Bill is introduced at the end of the year without international aviation included from the start, we trust that MSPs from all parties will work together to make the Bill the world-class example it should be by putting it back in.
Gavin McLellan, Head of Christian Aid Scotland; Duncan McLaren, Chief Executive, FoE Scotland; Judith Robertson, Head of Oxfam Scotland; Stuart Housden, Director, RSPB Scotland; Colin Howden, Director, Transform Scotland; Liz Murray, Head of Campaigns, WDM Scotland; Dr Richard Dixon, Director, WWF Scotland; Little Dunkeld, Dunkeld.