New Clause 15 — Advice on emissions from international aviation and international shipping
Orders of the Day
4:30 pm
Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness, Conservative)
Does the hon. Gentleman's point about the impact of aviation and shipping not show the absurdity at the heart of the Bill? Independent studies show that a 75 per cent. increase in emissions from shipping is expected in the next 15 to 20 years and that emissions from shipping already constitute more than double those from aviation globally. The fact that we are introducing an 80 per cent. reduction today while critical elements of delivering it are not within the power of the Secretary of State shows that we are posturing and not really putting down legally enforceable limits on emissions. In the meantime, we are failing to take the practical actions that could be taken to deliver emissions changes today.
Annotations
John Byng
Posted on 29 Oct 2008 11:36 am (Report this annotation)
Graham Stuart is overlooking the fact that shipping is far less polluting per tonne kilometre of goods carried than aviation.
The independent studies that predict an increase in emissions from shipping presume increased trade will be serviced principally by the least polluting mode of transport. Emissions would be several times worse if aviation were the form of transport.
Emissions will be reduced with greatest efficiency if we employ the least polluting forms of transport rather than aviation and at the same time adjust economies to operate more locally and so reverse the increase in long distance trade.