§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the contribution made by(a) UK-based airlines and (b) UK airports to greenhouse gas emissions; and what contributions they are expected to make to help the UK reach its Kyoto targets. [136197]
§ Mr. MullinThe UK reports its emissions as required by internationally agreed reporting guidelines, including greenhouse gas emissions. In 1998 greenhouse gas emissions from civil aviation movements entirely within the UK were 0.95 MtC. Under the Kyoto Protocol, emissions from international flights are not allocated to individual countries. Emissions from UK airports are not reported separately. The UK total greenhouse gas emissions in 1998 were 192.65 MtC.
Details of action being taken, both in the UK and internationally to reduce future aviation emissions, will be set out in the UK's climate change programme to be published shortly. It is not possible to quantify the contribution that the results of this action may make to achieving the UK's Kyoto target. But in any event action in other areas of the transport sector and in other sectors of the economy is expected to achieve the target and move the UK towards its domestic goal to cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 per cent. by 2010.
In keeping with the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol, the UK is working within the International Civil Aviation Organisation on measures to reduce emissions from international civil aviation. Options include technological and operational improvements and market-based incentives. An ICAO decision on policy options is expected in autumn 2001.
The UK supports an emissions trading scheme in the long term and an emissions charge in the meantime.