First Choice and Friends of the Earth have called on the Government to put together a nationwide strategy on carbon emissions.
Speaking at the ABTA Travel Convention, First Choice mainstream holidays managing director Dermot Blastland said the strategy should encompass all industries and lifestyles, taking account of the damage done by energy use in homes, at work, and other modes of transport as well as airlines.
“There needs to be a coherent strategy,” he said. “Then we could plan our aircraft design and people could change their central heating systems.
“We want to discuss these issues and try to influence the Government.”
Blastland said air travel is often unfairly associated with doing more damage to the environment than is actually the case, and admitted the industry has been forced on the defensive.
“We need to move on to the front foot and say this is an issue,” he said.
Blastland’s comments were welcomed by Friends of the Earth executive director Tony Juniper, who also called for the Government to take responsibility for putting in a framework to tackle climate change.
He told Blastland: “There is an enormous opportunity within the travel industry. The Government needs to be hearing from people like you because they think people in the corporate world are against a framework.”
However, Blastland disagreed with Juniper’s call for more taxation on domestic flights.
He said: “If people need to get somewhere, they will just take their car. Already the trains are packed.”
A recent poll by Mori has shown that 57% of UK citizens would support a slowdown in aviation growth; 68% would pay more to protect the environment; while 60% say airlines should pay more taxes to help save the environment.
Further reading
- British travel industry must wake up to climate threat – Friends of the Earth press release, 29 November 2006