UK 'must act' on plane emissions

Britain will not be able to meet its goals on climate change without curbing the demand for air travel, according to an Oxford University report. The government is aiming for a 60% cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. But the report's authors say the UK is becoming "air dependent" and government policies on increasing air travel contradict that stated aim.

However, the British Air Transport Association said targeting UK air travel alone would have little impact. The government has said it wants aviation included in the next round of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Carbon dioxide emissions from aviation doubled during the 1990s while those from the rest of the economy fell.

Currently, aircraft produce about 5.5% of UK emissions.

The report says that without new policies, they will account for about a quarter of the national total in 2050.