Financial prosperity adding to global warming
The Governments annual transport survey highlighted how increasing prosperity has helped fuel global warming as people make lifestyle choices the generation before them would have been less likely to make.
"With increased prosperity bigger cars are one of the things people choose to spend their money on," said a spokeswoman for the Department of Transport.
The report highlighted how car drivers are driving the double amount they were 30 years ago. The average person travelling by car for 5,746 miles a year. A reverse trend for cycling was observed. In the last three decades cycling has declined with 42%, from 51 to 36 miles.
Economic growth combined with cheap air tickets has made air travel an easy lifestyle choice for many. Between 1989 and 2005, the number of people flying around the UK went up from 4% to 11%. This is a huge concern for environmentalists as air travel is the fastest growing source of carbon dioxide, which is the main cause of global warming.
"It is disappointing that the Government is not doing more to educate everyone on this matter," said Carbon-info.org's campaign manager Paula Bermann. "While individuals may be able to afford a big 4x4 and fly on holiday many times each year, the planet unfortunately can't. Lifestyle choices can make or break our efforts to successfully tackle global warming and climate change."
In line with the other figures, walking had declined from 255 miles per person in 1975 to just under 200 miles in 1995.
Stephen Joseph, Transport 2000's executive director, said that the Governments transport policy was "not working."
25th September 2006
