While combating the environmental challenge of climate change is global responsibility, a new report shows that the downturn of the economic climate — specifically, in Britain — may have affected toxic carbon emissions. Released by the UK governed Climate Change Committee (CCC), it reveals a 2% drop since 2008. All signs point to the recession, which put a dent in (or altogether halted) UK travelers’ plans to roam outside their homeland.
Due to the poor economy, Brits stayed closer to home while on holiday, which made for less greenhouse gases being released into the environment. With airlines cutting back their schedules, the cost of oil and the lack of deals, fewer jetsetters means less damage done to the ozone layer.
Even though emissions are down, the Committee warns that cuts due to the recession are not enough to keep the UK on target to meet its emissions goals. It doesn’t help that according to a recent poll conducted by the Loughborough University, which asked 500 people whether they would be willing not to fly in the next 12 months in order to cut emissions, only 26 percent were willing to give up air travel to help the environment. The British are a compromising people however; the poll reports those asked were in fact willing to throw on a jacket, walk more and use less electricity to reduce energy use.
Just don’t mess with their holiday! That’s off limits!
Photo via Andrew*@flickr.
