Chinnor and Thame Friends of the Earth has urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown and local MP Boris Johnson to stop ignoring aviation today (Saturday 5 April). The group wants the Government’s new Climate Change Law to cover all sources of carbon dioxide emissions , including the

UK’s share of emissions from international aviation and shipping. Boris Johnson MP for the Henly constituency, will have the opportunity to vote on the law when it is debated in Parliament later this month. Chinnor and Thame Friends of the Earth is taking action as part of a national day of action in support of The Big Ask, Friends of the Earth’s campaign for a strong Climate Change law. Friends of the Earth has led the campaign for a strong Climate Change law through The Big Ask. The law, which is set to be introduced this summer, is groundbreaking but needs strengthening if the UK is to play its part in tackling climate change. The Government’s proposed law does not count the

UK’s share of emissions from international aviation and shipping. Friends of the Earth believes it’s ludicrous to pretend these emissions don’t exist, and unfair to treat aviation and shipping any differently to other sectors of the economy. The Government already publishes figures on aviation emissions and there is no practical reason why they can not be included from the outset. A way of including shipping emissions should worked out as a matter of urgency.       Aviation is a fast growing source of carbon dioxide emissions.  Government figures published in January 2008 showed aviation accounts for 6.4 per cent of

UK carbon emissions [1]. The impact of aviation emissions  is  double that of carbon dioxide alone because of other gases that planes  pump out  at altitude [2]The Big Ask, Friends of the Earth climate campaign is calling on Boris Johnson  to vote for a strong climate change law that:   Includes the

UK’s share of emissions from international shipping and aviation   Commits the

UK to cutting its emissions by 80 per cent   Ensures steady progress by cutting emissions by at least 3 per cent a yearChinnor and Thame Friends of the Earth Maureen Dyroff, supporter and local resident said:“It’s  crazy for Gordon Brown to leave out climate changing emissions from planes and ships from the new Climate Change Law but that’s what he is  doing. Why should our local industry and businesses be held to account for their carbon emissions but not the aviation industry? We hope our MP, Boris Johnson, will use his vote to call for a strong Climate Change law that covers all emissions. ” Friends of the Earth’s Day of Action on Saturday 5 April will be one of many inspiring events taking place during the Climate Change Bill Week of Action coordinated by Stop Climate Chaos/I Count from 30 March to 5 April demanding a tough Climate Change law.