Air miles schemes should be banned because they encourage excessive flying, say government climate change advisers.
There should also be an “escalating air miles levy” to dissuade people from flying too much, with the income invested into low-carbon aviation technology.
The recommendations come from a report commissioned by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC).
It says the changes should not force holidaymakers to pay more, rather it wants to stop air miles members taking additional flights to “maintain their privileged traveller status”.
The report, by Imperial College London, also suggests flight emissions should be advertised in a simple way that is easily understood by customers.
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Its findings are aimed at restricting the 15% of the UK population thought to be responsible for 70% of flights.
It also calls for major changes in other areas, such as food labelling, emissions and rail travel.
“High impact shifts in consumer behaviours” are needed for the UK to reach its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, the report says, warning that the “small and easy changes” suggested in the past will not suffice.
It urges ministers to consider policy changes “consistent with the scale of the climate challenge”.
The report – Behaviour Change, Public Engagement And Net Zero – also includes wider recommendations on sustainable living, including weekly collections of food waste and changes to diet, particularly eating less meat and switching to largely plant-based diets.
It also suggests mandatory labels on food products to show the environmental impact of producing the item.
Other domestic travel recommendations include slashing prices on intercity rail services to reduce demand for cars and planes, and re-opening disused rail lines.
The UK is the world’s first major economy to legally commit to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 after the ambitious target was recommended by the CCC.
Source : Sky News : http://news.sky.com/story/ban-air-miles-schemes-to-cut-excessive-flying-says-climate-report-11835463
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