Government encourages 'green holidaymaking'

The government is urging holidaymakers to consider 'carbon offsetting' as a way of reducing the environmental impact of their holiday travel.

Carbon dioxide emissions from aeroplanes are an increasing factor to climate change. Carbon offsetting enables airline passengers to donate money to schemes, which reduce carbon emissions either in this country or overseas.

Environment Minister Elliot Morley said: "Flying has a significant environmental impact because of the distances covered and the amount of CO2 emitted; there is also much scientific opinion which believes that emitting these gases at high altitude increases the climate change impact. For example, a return transatlantic flight can produce up to two tonnes of carbon dioxide per passenger.

"I would ask travellers to consider whether, in addition to enjoying their holidays, they counter some of the environmental damage by subscribing to one of the offset schemes available.

"It's relatively cheap, for example, to offset the climate change impact of a flight to the Mediterranean, which only costs around £5 to offset."

The UK is offsetting the carbon dioxide emissions arising from the G8 summit and Whitehall departments will be offsetting their air flights from next April.

The inclusion of aviation emissions within the EU-Emissions Trading Scheme is a priority for the UK presidency of the EU.

Offsetting schemes are available from several companies including Climate Care at www.climatecare.org and Future Forests at www.futureforests.com.

(KMcA/SP)