London MEP calls on Blair to Challenge Bush on Pollution

1.36.36pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 17th Sep 2004

Euro-MPs meeting in Strasbourg have called on Tony Blair to challenge a US bid to prevent the EU from introducing measures to make the airline industry pay for environmental damage. Aviation is expected to produce one quarter of all Britain's global warming emissions by 2030, as the number of passengers using the country's airports increases from 200 to 500 million over the next 30 years. Air traffic from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports is expected to grow significantly during this period.

The European Commission says that pressure from the United States is behind moves within the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to prohibit levies based on aircraft emissions. The European Parliament backed a call for ICAO to reject the US position which MEPs say will undermine the organisation's credibility in the emissions field.

Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP for London, said:

"This is the chance for Tony Blair to put some 'air miles' between himself and President Bush, and prove that his recent fine words about climate change have real substance. The EU must be equipped with all the tools necessary to fight global warming. It's bad enough that President Bush refuses to take action; we cannot allow him also to sabotage our efforts."

On Tuesday the Prime Minister announced that Britain would take the lead when it holds the EU Presidency next year in trying to gain support from member states to extend Europe's emissions trading scheme to aviation. The Government has not ruled out the possibility also of supporting a tax on flights that some say could add £10 to the cost of each single journey.

The action would set him on a collision course with President Bush if he retains control of the White House in November. US airlines operate more than one third of all the world's flights.