Commenting on plans by the government to off-set its emissions from aviation, Charlie Kronick of Greenpeace said:
"This is just plain hypocritical of the government. Off-setting is a book-keeping trick that can't stop climate change, because once you've burned jet fuel at altitude there's absolutely nothing you can do to stop your emissions changing the climate. If ministers were serious about reducing greenhouse gases from aviation they'd shelve plans for new runways and airports. Investing in clean energy programmes in the developing world is welcome, but without action here at home it's just government greenwash."
Money isn't everything © Gavin Austin
The climate camp's 24 hours of action has drawn to a close and it's been a rare old time with protests springing up all over the country, not just around Heathrow. When I left the camp last night, a large group of people were camped outside BAA's offices near the airport and thanks to Indymedia's rather excellent Twittering, my mobile has continued to deliver updates about what was going on.
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I was chatting to the guys from the Centre for Alternative Technology earlier today (they're running the Bluetooth Takeaway in our field at Glastonbury) about some videos we might film about what they're up to at the festival. It seems, however, that they're already video stars in their own right, having filmed and starred in their own production, Cheat Neutral.
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Commenting ahead of the government's announcement of a voluntary code on carbon off-setting and a statement from Tesco which is also due to feature off-setting, Charlie Kronick, head of Greenpeace's climate and energy campaign, said:
"The scientists warn we need to slash our carbon emissions, but there is a risk that the fashion for off-setting could actually encourage people to take flights and unnecessary journeys. The truth is, once you've put a tonne of CO2 into the atmosphere there's nothing off-setting can do to stop it changing our climate.
"The government's announcement of a voluntary code for carbon offset products will do little to protect the climate or make it easier for consumers to do the right thing, because offsets shift the responsibility for reducing our carbon footprint from Western governments to ordinary people in the developing world. Instead the government should be taking the radical action needed to reduce our emissions here at home, like stopping airport expansion and reforming our wasteful electricity generation system. The announcement is a smokescreen.
"Too often carbon off-setting is Enron environmentalism, a neat accounting trick that does little to stop global warming. The government should focus on transforming the way we use energy here in the UK at the same time as helping to put the growing economies of the developing world on a low carbon pathway."
ENDS
For more information and to arrange an interview, contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.
Part of the Greenpeace Motor Show blog
Despite my fears of being blugeoned to death by furious Top Gear fans with the mocking, satanic laughter of JC (he's not the messiah...) ringing in my ears and various carbon oxides burning in my nostrils, it would appear that the motor show is survivable, with the correct guide. So, as a mark of my gratitude I've decided to let the remaining twenty six mistakes in their token 'green' page remain uncorrected.
Part of the Greenpeace Motor Show blog
Sunday finds me in a forgiving mood. There's good in everyone, even Geoff, and today seems like an appropriate day to put a little balance into the debate.
So, here goes, 10 good things about Land Rover ...
