Blair will offset his holiday flights

Tony Blair is to offset the carbon emissions from the flights he takes for his personal travel. The announcement follows criticism from environmentalists of comments made by the PM in an interview with Sky News during which Mr Blair said he would not give up his holidays abroad despite the growing concern about aviation’s contribution to climate change... In the interview, the PM was also asked whether it would be better if people holidayed closer to home, to which he replied: 'I personally think these things are a bit impractical actually to expect people to do that.'

Tony Blair’s official spokesperson later said the PM would be offsetting emissions from his holiday flights, including his latest trip to Miami. No details were given on which company would be used to offset the emissions, but No.10’s official spokesperson said the funds would go towards investing in green projects, such as planting trees. According to the offsetting website co2balance.com, a return flight from Heathrow to Miami produces 1.56 tonnes of carbon per person, which would cost £15 to offset.

No.10 has previously said that all ministerial travel would be offset and that the government’s aim is to be carbon neutral by 2012.

This article, by Richard Hammond, was published in collaboration with New Consumer.

Earlier on GreenTraveller...
9 Jan 2007: Blair joins flying debate
Lead article in the Guardian today on Tony Blair's comment that it is impractical to expect people to make personal sacrifices by taking holidays closer to home.

"Tony Blair today wades into the growing controversy over how individuals can help to tackle global warming by declaring that he has no intention of abandoning long-haul holiday flights to reduce his carbon footprint."

See: Carry on flying, says Blair - science will save the planet.