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Flights from Stansted after expansion will emit more CO2 than Tanzania
09 October 2008
Today’s announcement to expand the number of flights from Stansted airport will mean that each year, flights from the airport will emit more CO2 than Tanzania, where an estimated 4000 people die every year from climate change related causes. The World Development Movement brands this move as ‘simply irresponsible and unfathomable’.
Tim Jones, climate change policy officer at the World Development Movement, said:
“It’s sickening to learn that the government are supporting this expansion, which will only worsen the impact of climate change on the world’s poorest people. How ironic and sad that in the future, Stansted will generate more CO2 than Tanzania, where it is estimated that already 4000 people die every year from climate change related causes.
“Only two days ago, the influential committee on climate change demanded that emissions must be cut by 80 per cent. This move flies directly in the face of this recommendation. It’s simply irresponsible and unfathomable.’
ENDS
Kate Blagojevic
Press officer, World Development Movement
0207 820 4900/4913, 07711 875 345, Email:
Notes to editors
- BAA estimate that if allowed to increase flights, by 2015 Stansted’s CO2 emissions will be 4.15 million tonnes. In 2005, the US Energy Information Administration say that Tanzania, a country with 38 million people, emitted 3.97 million tonnes.
- It’s estimated that 4000 people in Tanzania die each year from climate change related causes, Spatz, J., Campbell-Lendrum, D., Holloway, T. and Foley, J. (2005). Impact of regional climate change on human health. Nature Vol 438. 17/11/05.
- The World Development Movement campaigns to tackle the root causes of poverty. WDM believes that charity is not enough and aims to change the policies that keep the developing world poor. It is a democratic and politically independent organisation with 15,000 supporters and 70 local groups across the UK. For more information, go to www.wdm.org.uk
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