17th March 2008

See letter today regarding todays reports on the Government's emissions and glaciers and their impact on Staverton. See also 450 words on Staverton here.

Three years ago the Tyndall Centre calculated that if Britain were to meet its target of cutting greenhouse gases by 60 per cent by 2050, and emissions from aviation were not reduced, all other emissions – from households, businesses, energy generation and cars – would have to go to zero. Flying would take up everything that was available.

The prediction is on the way to being fulfilled. Emissions from aircraft show no sign whatsoever of being reduced. It is not only that their growth seems endless, but that a tonne of plane pollution ejected directly into the stratosphere is two to four times as harmful as a tonne emitted at ground level.

This week, the Government's claim that CO2 emissions are reducing has been found to be a scam, as their more accurate figures show no decrease (i). This comes on the same day as a report showing our glaciers are melting faster than at any time in the past 5,000 years (ii).

All this makes Gloucester City Scrutiny Committee's rejection of expansion at Staverton Airport all the more important. Let us hope their Full Council supports this recommendation.

Stroud District Council in their submission to the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy refused to support airport expansions. Many other Council's are also challenging Airport growth. Stopping a small airport like Staverton from expanding is the start of turning the tide. We can and must make tackle climate change.

Cllr. Philip Booth,
Stroud District councillor for the Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill ward,
2 The Laurels, Bread Street, Ruscombe, Stroud, Glos. GL6 6EL


Notes:
(i) See Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/17/climatechange.carbonemissions
(ii) See Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/16/glaciers.climatechange1