Climate change officials slammed over air travel

A SPECIAL team of green officials set up by the Scottish Government to help tackle climate change has come under fire after it emerged they took a soaring number of short-haul flights.

The Climate Change Division spent almost 16,000 on flights in 2009-10, the majority of which were to London.

The figure represents a rise from just over 9500 in 2007-8 and comes as the amount of money spent on rail travel fell to just 6663.

Of 50 flights taken by officials working at Victoria Quay in 2009-10, 34 were to London, while others were to Brussels, Belfast, Cardiff and the Copenhagen climate change summit.

Scotland has among the most ambitious climate change targets in the world, with the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 42 per cent by 2020.

But concerns were today raised about a "worrying" dependence some officials had on air travel, one of the biggest polluters.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie, who himself travelled overland to the Copenhagen summit, said: "It's a worrying sign that the Climate Change Division appears to have a growing dependence on air travel.

"It's also a cause for concern when we see that the vast majority of flights being taken are return flights between Edinburgh and London.

"I'm appalled that officials from the Climate Change Division are not aware that flying to London does not save time or money and adds to carbon emissions. Ludicrously, it even appears the Climate Change Division flew officials to the climate change summit."

According to the Scottish Government figures, which were released under Freedom of Information laws, climate change officials spent just over 25,000 on travel in 2009-10 and 2008-9, compared with around 19,000 in 2007-8.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said the majority of journeys made by staff in the Climate Change Division were by train or bus. He said: "The Climate Change Division has expanded in recent years and has increased its work with the EU and UK Government on new policies. Yet overall travel costs for the division were actually lower last year compared to 2008-09."

He added: "Where business travel is necessary, we prioritise the most cost-effective and sustainable option and we charge a carbon levy on air travel which will help fund climate change fellowships for people in Commonwealth countries."

MINISTERS MISS CARBON TARGETS

MINISTERS were under fire today for failing to meet targets for cutting their carbon footprint.

The Scottish Government Travel Plan set a 20 per cent target, but in a parliamentary answer to Lothians Labour MSP George Foulkes, Finance Secretary John Swinney revealed they had managed three per cent.

Labour environment spokeswoman Sarah Boyack said: "Ministers should be opting for low carbon forms of transport or cancelling unnecessary trips."