The environment is a discussion that everyone is talking about at the moment, and I’ll be the first to admit that the increase in air passenger duty last month has made me think more about the environment. I feel though that increase in taxes isn’t going to solve anything, all it’s going to do is widen the gap between social classes, and end low cost flights as we know it.
Well, there’s very little we can do about the increase in taxes, but we all need to become more ‘green savvy’ and protect the environment at home and abroad. So, taking a positive step forward, I contacted the local council today to ask for a green recycling bin, and to my amusement I was told that it wasn’t possible as the refuse truck couldn’t get down my street.
So, I’ve failed at the first hurdle through no fault of my own, but I am still supposed to like the idea of extra taxes on my flights, when we should be looking at our shocking public transport system, improving that, and getting more cars off the road.
I’m ranting, and this blog post isn’t really heading in any direction, I suppose I am frustrated, that the government is trying to stop me from doing something that I love, which is travelling, but there are other areas they could concentrate on to help the environment.
Taxing the public = more money in the bank but no impact on the environment, but improving public transport and getting cars off the road = taking money out of the bank, and they don’t want to do that do they, where will they find money to fight a war that we won’t win. [Ouch!]
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Nathan | 13 March, 2007 at 10:48 am
Yes, Francisca Kellet made a similar point about the social impact of an aviation tax on the Telegraph blog. The rich just pay it while the poor are squeezed out.
You seem to suggest that action on climate change is transferable, though – that *rather* than hitting aviation, we should improve public transport. I don’t buy that the burden of solving this problem can be shifted onto one industry, leaving other polluters to carry on largely as normal.
Ultimately nothing, not flying, motoring, housing, waste disposal etc etc will be unaffected by the fight against climate change. Everyone must be prepared to accept some discomfort; we must demand, though, that the discomfort we suffer is efficacious. And that’s the problem with aviation taxes. They’re not.
Darren Cronian | 13 March, 2007 at 11:58 am
Nathan, yes, you are right, I’m been selfish.
After reading some of my points ‘the morning after’ I do actually disagree with myself. haha
I don’t drive, but I do use public transport, and compared to other countries, our transport system is a complete joke. Moving the environmental issues away from flights to cars isn’t the solution neither I suppose – who knows what the solution is, but I do think we all have a part to play, no matter how small.
ourman | 13 March, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Your post is gibberish. You say it will end low cost flights as we know them.
That’s the point. In the same way as low cost flights boosted the number of planes in our skies then taxing them will cut the numbers and emissions.
As for recyling – why not take your stuff to a recycling depot yourself?
The last poster is right. The attempt to alter the course of climate change will and should touch on every area.
Darren Cronian | 13 March, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Gibberish it may be but its started a debate, and well that’s what blogs are for 
So are you saying that flights should be for the rich, and the poor can stay at home?
I do agree with you that it should touch every area so why is the government ‘picking’ on airlines and air passengers?
As for me taking stuff to the recyling depot – good point, but Im not walking 10 miles to drop off my recyclable items, when I don’t drive a car and can’t rely on public transport.
Oh, and we pay council tax you know! 
ourman | 13 March, 2007 at 2:32 pm
You’re so right…Porsche’s shouldn’t just be for the rich. The poor should have them too. Oh and diamonds and gold etc etc.
Anything you have to pay money for will more easily be purchased by the rich. That’s the nature of life.
If you are arguing that the rich should be taxed as well via income tax…okay but then again I guess the rich could argue that they aren’t directly damaging the environment.
Darren Cronian | 13 March, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I love your sarcasm
You could say that potentially rich people fly more, therefore damaging the environment more. Flights are a method of transport that should be a available no matter your social class.
ourman | 13 March, 2007 at 3:31 pm
It’s got nothing to do with social class. It’s to do with money. No one has a divine right to fly anywhere.
If you increase the tax on anything then less people can afford it. If less people can afford it then less people will buy it and therefore less will be sold.
God this is painful…
So, and I feel I have to spell this out, if flights are more expensive then less people will fly and therefore there will be less flights, less planes, less environmental impact.
Enough.
Darren Cronian | 13 March, 2007 at 4:30 pm
>> So, and I feel I have to spell this out, if flights are more expensive then less people will fly and therefore there will be less flights, less planes, less environmental impact.
You don’t say
I never said that wasn’t the case.
Karen Bryan | 13 March, 2007 at 5:57 pm
I do agree that flying seems to be getting a lot of stick for causing pollution and environmental damage where there are several other causes. However it is one of the causes and we all have to take this on board.
The majority of people could afford to pay more for flights and might even be willing to pay more, if they knew that the money raised in additional taxes would all be spend on things like improving public transport.
The public transport in the UK is expensive and unreliable. Then if public transport did improve more people would use it, which would mean fewer cars on the roads. Then buses wouldn’t get held up in so much congestion, which would further improve public transport. No point wringing our hands amd feeling hard done by.
Darren Cronian | 13 March, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Karen, good points.
How do we know these APD taxes are being put to help the environment? If we are paying air passenger duty then there should surely be an independant audit to make sure that these funds are being used as they are meant.
Rohan | 13 March, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I read a few blogs and I have never come across such an obnoxious individual as ‘ourman’
Theres a way of getting your point across and its not in a rude, arrogant manner such as yours. You wouldn’t be American would you by any chance? 
Darren Cronian | 13 March, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Rohan, please let’s keep a cool head..
This is a friendly blog, where I can voice my own opinions [because um its my blog] and readers can either agree or disagree.
Free speech
Darren Cronian | 14 March, 2007 at 9:45 am
Kevin May, editor of Travolution kindly emailed me the quote below this morning.
From;
Amanda Harrison Media
PR Consultancy.
Charles | 16 March, 2007 at 3:39 pm
44% seems rather high for the percentage of people who are for ‘green tax’
Becky | 18 March, 2007 at 11:22 am
I know I dont mind paying green tax but Im not confident that the misfits that run this country actually wil spend the money on green initiatives.
Flightblogging.com - Flightmapping’s blog » Blog Archive » Hello to Travel Rants | 25 March, 2007 at 3:23 pm
[...] like Darren at Travel Rants and myself have plenty in common. Take a look at what he says about Gordon Brown’s new air tax swindle. We both agree that he’s conned us by calling APD an environmental tax, and then stuffing the [...]
James Avery | 25 March, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Radio 4 want to hear your Air Travel Experiences | Holiday advice & guides for travel consumers | 14 May, 2007 at 2:36 pm
[...] than the air passenger duty, which caused a bit of a storm, the next biggest consumer issue is the price airlines are charging [...]
Taz | 1 July, 2007 at 12:40 pm
i think it is disgusting they have increased air tax, they don’t give two hoots about the environment, its just more money in their pockets, they will tax anything they possibly can, it isn’t fair, people on minimum wage can no longer afford to go on holiday. we pay enough bloody tax as it is, what’s next, oxygen tax because we are spoiling the trees by breathing!! We should all stand up and fights against this clear daylight robery!
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19 responses to “Increasing Flight Taxes won’t Help the Environment”