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Campaigners urge Ruth Kelly not to ignore aviation

news release

Campaigners from Manchester Friends of the Earth [1], dressed as airline crew, today presented Ruth Kelly (Secretary of State for Transport) with an aeroplane covered in postcards from her constituents urging her not to ignore aviation.

The postcards were filled in by Bolton West residents as part of Friends of the Earth’s climate campaign, The Big Ask [2], which is calling on Government to introduce legally binding targets for reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.

However, the Government’s current proposals not only contain targets that will leave of the UK well short of making its fair share of global emissions reductions, but also emissions from international aviation and shipping, the two fastest growing sources of carbon dioxide, aren’t counted towards the targets.

Ali Abbas, Manchester Friends of the Earth’s lead climate campaigner, said:

“Having a climate law that ignores emissions from aviation is a bit like having a drink driving law that ignores alcohol from vodka – it clearly doesn’t make any sense.

“If the Government is serious about tackling climate change,
it needs to cut emissions from all sources, including international aviation and shipping, by at least 80% by 2050.”

ENDS

Photos available on the Manchester FOE website.

Notes to Editors

[1] Manchester Friends of the Earth is an award-winning environmental campaign group, raising awareness and lobbying for policy changes at a local, regional, national and international level. The group consists entirely of volunteers, and its campaigns are funded by membership fees and individual donations. Up-to-date information is available on the group’s website: www.manchesterfoe.org.uk. Manchester Friends of the Earth is a Licensed Local Group of Friends of the Earth, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

[2] For more information on The Big Ask, see www.thebigask.com.

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