AIR DUTY DEBATE REVEALS OTHER PARTIES' CO2 CONTRADICTIONS

20 November 2012 

Scottish Greens are criticising the bigger political parties at Holyrood for backing aviation growth, contradicting their commitments to Scotland's climate change targets.

Today the SNP Government will use a debate on air passenger duty to call for the tax to be devolved so it can be cut to encourage more flights, despite research showing cheap international air travel causes the UK an annual spending deficit of £17billion.

Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow and transport spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said:

"Scotland's airports are booming and the greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector have risen relentlessly for decades. The bigger parties all supported the creation of CO2 reduction targets and it's vital they honour that commitment.

"Scotland has missed its first target and the minister has offered no sign of taking extra steps to get us back on track. How on earth can our commitment to climate change be taken seriously if we fail to recognise the environmental cost of the most polluting form of transport?

"It's sad but not surprising to see the bigger political parties jostling for position as the aviation industry's best buddy, an industry that doesn't pay VAT or fuel duty. Scotland's international connectivity is of course important but we should be finding smarter ways to stay connected rather than fuelling another jet age."