Steve Beasant

More than half of the Government’s delegation to the Copenhagen climate talks will be travelling by air, figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats reveal. 

Parliamentary answers reveal that 19 delegates of the 38-member team have so far confirmed they plan to fly to the talks, with DECC budgeting up to £17,500 for the total cost of travel for all UK delegates.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes said: “It is extraordinary that at least half of the UK delegation from DECC are travelling to Copenhagen by air when the dates of this conference have been known for months and others have managed to chart a route by train.

“It is completely unacceptable for ministers and public servants to travel in a way that produces the most damaging emissions when alternatives are clearly available.

“This is just another example of the Labour Government saying one thing and doing another.”