Scottish Greens plan carbon ration cards for travel

Published on Sunday 11 March 2007 00:59

Motorists buying fuel and travellers buying airline tickets will be forced to use 'carbon ration cards' to prove they are not responsible for too much greenhouse gas under plans to be unveiled by the Scottish Greens tomorrow.

The plans will involve everyone in Scotland being given a personal allowance of about four tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, enough for an average annual car mileage of 12,000 miles. If they want to travel more, they will have to buy carbon credits from others who do less driving or travelling by plane.

The Greens will also pledge to have annual Scottish targets for reduction of greenhouse gases, and to scrap all new motorways and airport expansion, and spend the cash on better public transport.

The carbon trading scheme will involve motorists and travellers being allocated carbon credits at the beginning of each year. When buying a product that generates carbon such as fuel or an airline ticket, or paying their electricity bill, consumers would have to show their carbon card to prove they had enough points.

A high-mileage driver or a frequent air traveller would have to choose between buying extra carbon credits from others or changing their lifestyle. Those who drive and fly less could make a tidy income from their green lifestyle by letting others buy their carbon credits.

The plan will be part of the Scottish Green manifesto for the Holyrood elections in May.