Secretary of State for Transport Douglas Alexander today reported the progress made in implementing the policies and proposals set out in the Government's 2003 Future of Air Transport White Paper.
The White Paper set out a long-term strategy for the sustainable development of air travel to 2030, recognising the growing aspirations to travel and the economic benefits that it brings while tackling the environmental challenges.
The progress report reaffirms the Government's commitment to the strategy set out in the White Paper, that is, support for the development of the aviation sector across the UK, predominantly through making the best use of existing capacity, and ensuring where new capacity is required its provision is in line with our environmental obligations.
As part of this, the Department is today announcing a new mechanism to help inform decisions on major increases in aviation capacity. The 'emissions cost assessment' will consider whether the aviation sector is meeting its external climate change costs. The Government is expected to consult on the development of this assessment in the first half of 2007.
Mr Alexander said:
"There has been increasing awareness since the White Paper was published of the need to ensure that the aviation industry grows sustainably. The Government has also recognised this as a priority. The progress report confirms our intention that aviation should meet its climate change costs and should limit noise and pollution at airports across the country.
At the same time, we must ensure that the UK has the airport capacity it needs to enhance its economic performance."
Other achievements detailed in today's report include:
* Progress within Europe on including aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme.
* Royal Assent of the Civil Aviation Act, strengthening powers over the control of aircraft noise and local air quality.
* Industry progress in reducing the noise of the airline fleet and in addressing local air quality issues
* Improvements to passenger facilities at airports across the UK.
* Establishment of better dialogue between local communities and airport developers as a result of the publication, for the first time and after local consultation, of airport 'master plans'. These documents provide a basis for ensuring that measures to address noise, air quality, impacts on biodiversity and heritage, and issues of blight are properly considered, clearly set out and taken forward in an open and inclusive way.
* Launch of a Government scheme for offsetting all official flights.
The Government will also shortly be bringing forward proposals to make it simpler for air passengers to offset the carbon emissions arising from the flights that they take by setting out a government standard for how such schemes should operate.
The White Paper set out a long-term strategy for the sustainable development of air travel to 2030, recognising the growing aspirations to travel and the economic benefits that it brings while tackling the environmental challenges.
The progress report reaffirms the Government's commitment to the strategy set out in the White Paper, that is, support for the development of the aviation sector across the UK, predominantly through making the best use of existing capacity, and ensuring where new capacity is required its provision is in line with our environmental obligations.
As part of this, the Department is today announcing a new mechanism to help inform decisions on major increases in aviation capacity. The 'emissions cost assessment' will consider whether the aviation sector is meeting its external climate change costs. The Government is expected to consult on the development of this assessment in the first half of 2007.
Mr Alexander said:
"There has been increasing awareness since the White Paper was published of the need to ensure that the aviation industry grows sustainably. The Government has also recognised this as a priority. The progress report confirms our intention that aviation should meet its climate change costs and should limit noise and pollution at airports across the country.
At the same time, we must ensure that the UK has the airport capacity it needs to enhance its economic performance."
Other achievements detailed in today's report include:
* Progress within Europe on including aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme.
* Royal Assent of the Civil Aviation Act, strengthening powers over the control of aircraft noise and local air quality.
* Industry progress in reducing the noise of the airline fleet and in addressing local air quality issues
* Improvements to passenger facilities at airports across the UK.
* Establishment of better dialogue between local communities and airport developers as a result of the publication, for the first time and after local consultation, of airport 'master plans'. These documents provide a basis for ensuring that measures to address noise, air quality, impacts on biodiversity and heritage, and issues of blight are properly considered, clearly set out and taken forward in an open and inclusive way.
* Launch of a Government scheme for offsetting all official flights.
The Government will also shortly be bringing forward proposals to make it simpler for air passengers to offset the carbon emissions arising from the flights that they take by setting out a government standard for how such schemes should operate.
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