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Foreign Secretary calls for 'global warming' tax on holidaymakers
Last updated at 10:22am on 25.10.06
Global warming: Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has called for a tax on holidaymakers
Holidaymakers could be hit with a "global warming" tax of up to £50 under plans aimed at forcing airlines to reduce gas emissions.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the new charges should be imposed by as early as 2008 or Britain will be thrown into "climate chaos".
In a keynote speech, Mrs Beckett urged Brussels to speed up plans to enforce the levy on airlines to encourage them to fly more fuel-effecient planes and deter people from travelling by air.
The cost is almost certain to be passed on to holidaymakers as budget airlines would be worst affected by what the aviation industry describes as a "tax on holidays".
Experts say the scheme could put £50 on the cost of flying from London to California, £35 on tickets to New York and between £5 and £10 on flights within Europe. Mrs Beckett used her speech in Berlin to up the pressure on Germany - which is taking over the presidency of the EU - to speed up progress on combating global warming.
But her comments risked being undermined by a Government report which yesterday suggested that airline routes could be used to replace rural train lines in Britain.
The Department for Transport document - its response to an earlier consultation on the future of Britain's railways - said: "In some circumstances, air transport may be a viable alternative and cannot be ruled out from the onset."
Shadow Transport Secretary Chris Grayling branded the plans "ridiculous" and accused the Government of having "no idea" on how to tackle global warming.
He added that the Government's response was a clear signal that more rural railway stations may be closed.
He said: "The most far flung corners of Britain will be affected by this - areas like the West Coast of Scotland, West Wales and Cornwall.
"These are local services which are used by commuters, as well as long distance passengers. I cannot think of a single rural area that wouldn't be hit by closures.
"The idea that with the environmental challenges we face, we would be replacing rail links with air links simply shows that the Government has no idea to tackle global warming."
Air travel is the fastest growing source of greenhouse emissions. The average jet pumps close to a tonne of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for each passenger it carries from London to New York.
The Department of Transport document emerged only hours after Mrs Beckett warned that climate change posed a "serious threat to international security".
Addressing experts at the British Embassy, she said: "Achieving climate security must be at the core of foreign policy. All of us here have to pick up the pace.
"The choice is clear: work together on a shared challenge that bridges traditional divides and engenders new trust or risk a further polarisation of the international community.
"We in Europe should be in no doubt that how the world responds to climate change matters as much to us as to anyone," she said.
"Look at those things that are highest on the European agenda: strong borders; poverty reduction; the risks of conflict and international terrorism; energy security; jobs and growth.
"Get our response right to climate change and our ability to deal with all of these is enhanced. Get it wrong and our efforts across the board will be undermined. Taking action on climate change is not just an imperative. It is an opportunity.
"And yet, in fact, we are dangerously behind the curve. We are on a direct path to climate chaos.
"When it comes to our inaction on climate change, our generation is in danger of global irresponsibility on a massive and irreversible scale."
The move on airline emissions is expected to be enforced between 2008 and 2013. But the UK is keen to ensure it takes place as soon as possible.
Greenpeace campaigner Emily Armistead said: "The scientists say the massive cuts we need to make in greenhouse gas emissions are impossible if aviation expands as much as the industry predicts.
"But bringing aviation into the emissions trading scheme is like putting a sticking plaster on a broken leg, it doesn't come close to meeting the challenge.
"Margaret Beckett undoubtedly appreciates the gravity of climate change and she's right to point out the security threat posed by global warming, but like many New Labour ministers her policy solutions are simply weak."
Reader views (10)
Margrette Beckette just doesn't get it. Who wants to holiday in one of the most expensive places in the world. In my conversations with many differnt nationalities, the last place anyone wants to holiday is England. The only people who will be taxed are the buisness travelers and the "subjects" of the UK. Britain, home of the taxed.
- Allen, US
As always the solution from the left for any problem is to simply levy a tax and then we can all go home feeling good about ourselves for having saved humanity from impending doom. They have no thought as to the true costs of their economic policies and to the undue hardship brought upon the very groups they claim to represent the most.
- Andrew, Orlando, USA
Let's tax exhaling, too! That CO2 is nasty stuff.
- Bob, Chicago, USA
So all we have to do is fork over 50 pounds and Global Warming will be taken care of?
If the weather people on TV can't predict the weather a week in advance, how are we suppose to know what the weather's going to be like in 5-10-50 years?
- Stl, Lansdale, PA
Hey Margaret! Why not set an example; curtail all unnecessary flights for Government, their advisers and of course, EU bureaucrats. It's just another, "do as I say, but not as I do" policy from this Labour Government.
- Nw5chav, London
We must give credit where it's due. There is no authority on this earth with more novel ideas on how to tax it's population than Britain. They don't solve any problems; just tax them.
- Frank, Wolverhampton England
And how exactly will the fifty pound tax used? Where will it go?? I think we all know the answer to that. Yet another stealth tax.
- Graham, London, UK
Is this really gonna stop people from travelling - or is it simply another way to get more money from the consumer!
- Jo, London
The Foreign Secretary is of course right to concerned about the environment. But there's a strong whiff of cant when she proposes reaching into our pockets before getting her own house in order.
- Gareth, London, UK
Good to see that there is some concern and attempts at action in SOME countries.
- Sher, USA
