The current UK expansion of the aviation industry is simply unsustainable. Aviation is hugely polluting and consumes an every larger share of available fuel. While the Government supports what it sees as an industry which creates wealth, jobs and helps economic growth it is vital that people understand that this growth will be at the expense of the economic destruction of nations like Bangladesh. Low lying, invariably desperately poor, countries will pay a huge price for our fun in the sun.
We demand that the Government now opposes any further expansion of the UK aviation industry, and introduces a carbon levy to ensure that all flights become carbon neutral. Such a levy could be administered by airline companies but it must be mandatory.
Because holiday aviation is an entirely non-essential luxury, we demand that the charge should cover the cost of off-setting the carbon produced from the entire aviation "life cycle". Including the carbon dioxide emitted in the manufacture of aircraft, the extraction of minerals, of the refining and delivery of aviation fuel, and the energy used in airports and travel agents. This may increase the cost of an airline ticket by 20-25% and will help to reduce the scale of the increase for demand, particularly for cheap flights for weekend trips.
The funds should offset the carbon dioxide by buying wind farms or other technologies in the UK or abroad. To avoid the allegation that this is just another tax, the revenue could be left entirely in the hands of the private sector operators - enabling them to buy the most cost effective renewable energy sources to keep their costs down. Indeed, the income derived from these renewable assets could, in part, be used to encourage airline operators to diversify into more responsible lines of business.
Individuals must also try to use aviation less, perhaps by taking their holidays here in the UK or by travelling abroad by ferry, then train. The Friends of the Earth website provides an excellent analysis of the issues involved.