UK aviation’s carbon plan allows rising emissions from planes

Industry says buying carbon offsets means overall emissions will fall compared with peak year of 2019

The UK aviation industry has announced carbon targets that allow emissions from planes to increase into the mid-2030s. It says buying carbon offsets will result in overall emissions falling compared with 2019 levels.

The move was welcomed by government ministers. But environmental groups said the industry was trying to have its cake and eat it" and said only reducing flights would guarantee the carbon cuts needed to tackle the climate crisis. Aviation caused 7% of the UK's emissions in 2018.