NEW WWF REPORT ON EXCESS GOVERNMENT FLYING
WWF is pleased to announce its new report entitled Excess Baggage: the case for reducing government flying, which launched today and can be downloaded at www.wwf.org.uk/excessbaggage.
This report looks at the extent to which flying by government departments is increasing, how much of this may be unnecessary, what best practice exists within the public sector and how much money and carbon would be saved if all Ministers and civil servants were to emulate these good examples.
The report also suggests how government could reduce its flying by making greater use of rail, videoconferencing and other alternatives.
Key findings from the report are:
- overall, government flying is almost certainly growing, as levels in the largest flying departments (Ministry of Defence, HM Revenue & Customs) have increased
- less than half of government departments have reduced
their flights - if all government departments followed the lead of the best performers to reduce unnecessary flying, then over the next three years:
- officials would take at least 600,000 fewer flights
- government would cut its CO2 emissions by more than 59,000 tonnes
- the government could be saving well over £100 million of taxpayers' money in avoided flight costs
- 90% of all government flights are to destinations within the UK
- the top non-UK short-haul routes are to Brussels, Geneva, Luxembourg and Strasbourg, which are all reachable by train
- there is a high concentration of flights to Washington DC and New York, suggesting that improved video links to these locations could be a quick win
- best performers are the Department for Education and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
- worst performers include the Ministry of Defence and HM Revenue & Customs
- there is an urgent need for government departments to improve flight data to control levels of flying and manage these downwards
- the public sector has much to learn from the private sector about saving time, money and carbon by reducing business flights
For questions or if you require further information please contact:
Jean Leston
Transport Policy Officer
Climate Change Team
WWF-UK
Panda House, Weyside Park
Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XR
Ph: 01483 412599
Mob: 07789 304897
WWF - for a living planet
www.wwf.org.uk
