18-Aug-2006
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport has made an Environment
Agency promise for World Environment Day by entering
into a partnership with Mersey Forest.
The Environment Agency is encouraging
people to ‘Promise the Earth’ by making small
lifestyle changes that will make a big difference
if everyone does them. One of the promises is
to pay back the environmental impact of any air
travel they take.
Every time you take a flight
for business or pleasure you are contributing
to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
These emissions are contributing to the rate of
climate change.
If you fly, you can offset your
carbon emissions from the flight by donating money
to projects such as energy efficient lighting
in developing countries, restoring rainforests,
planting trees or renewable energy projects in
the UK.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
has launched its own climate payback scheme called
‘Last Call’ whereby air passengers are invited
to contribute towards the creation and development
of the community Mersey Forest.
By making a donation to the
‘Last Call’ fund, passengers will be able to offset
their carbon dioxide emissions by their flight
as well as providing the social, amenity and conservation
benefits of new woodlands in the local area.
Ian Broad, environment manager
for the Environment Agency in Merseyside, said:
"We are delighted that Liverpool John Lennon
Airport is taking its environment responsibilities
seriously. We think ‘Last Call’ is a great scheme
and we would actively encourage other businesses
to follow its lead."
If you want to find out more
on how you can invest in your local environment
before or after you take your holiday, visit www.lastcall.org.uk.
Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield
Airport has entered into a similar partnership
with South Yorkshire Forest and Durham Tees Valley
Airport has entered into a partnership with Tees
Forest.
Websites like www.climatecare.org
and www.carbonneutral.com will calculate what
needs to be done to counteract the impact of your
flight. It doesn’t cost the earth to save the
planet. The price to make a return flight from
Liverpool to Paris carbon-neutral is just £1.19
(price needs checking).
Promising the earth couldn’t
be easier. Just visit the Environment Agency website
at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wed and click
on ‘Make A Promise’. There you’ll find ten small
things that will make a big difference if you
promise to do them – and you can choose as many
or as few as you like!
Alix Bell
