Let the train take the strain says the Committee on Climate Change

Holidaymakers will have to switch from planes to trains for shorter trips throughout Europe if the UK is to stick within its targeted aircraft emissions, according to a new report on Climate Change.

It says that air travel must not grow by more than 60 per cent by 2050 or the Government will blow its target.

While this sounds like a considerable increase in flights, demand for air travel is expected to swell by more than 200 per cent over the next 40 years if left unchecked.

If this happens, the UK will have no chance of meeting its commitment to keep aircraft emissions in 2050 to levels reached in 2005.

The Committee on Climate Change suggests passengers making domestic trips and short hops to Europe should switch to rail, which could lead to a 10 per cent drop in demand for flights by 2050.

Fuel efficiency improvements, arising from improved aircraft and engine design and more efficient air traffic control systems will result in a further 30 per cent drop in emissions, according to the report.

However, there is depressing news for passengers who had hoped that the introduction of biofuels would mean they could take guilt-free trips, safe in the knowledge that they were flying cleaner, greener aircraft.

The report concludes that biofuels, including those derived from plants and algae, will not account for more than 10 per cent of aviation fuel by 2050.

Several airlines are trying to develop biofuels including Virgin (www.virginatlantic.com) and Air New Zealand (www.airnewzealand.co.uk).

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