The Co-operative Travel has welcomed a government U-turn on the inclusion of aviation and shipping emissions in the Climate Change Bill.

Managing director Mike Greenacre said he hopes the move will act as a wake up call for the aviation industry.

“For too long the aviation industry has operated in a bubble, so this change of heart by the government will force it to embrace alterations to the way it does business,” he said.

“For some time we at The Co-operative Travel have been advocating managing aviation growth within current emissions levels, otherwise we will have virtually no chance of meeting the UK’s greenhouse gas targets.

“Now that international aviation and shipping will be included within the Climate Change Bill, it looks like we are on the right road to achieving our ambitions.

“This may also be the final nail in the coffin of Heathrow’s proposed third runway, which cannot be allowed to go ahead if we are to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.”


By Bev Fearis