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Blair green views 'muddle-headed' Blair green views 'muddle-headed'
(10 minutes later)
Tony Blair has been accused of giving "patchy" and "muddle-headed" leadership on climate change in the UK by his own sustainable development adviser.Tony Blair has been accused of giving "patchy" and "muddle-headed" leadership on climate change in the UK by his own sustainable development adviser.
And the PM's green views, in a Sky News interview, were "completely wrong", Jonathon Porritt told the BBC.And the PM's green views, in a Sky News interview, were "completely wrong", Jonathon Porritt told the BBC.
Mr Blair had said he would not give up flying, doubted any politician would tell people not to fly, and questioned the impact of UK-only climate action.Mr Blair had said he would not give up flying, doubted any politician would tell people not to fly, and questioned the impact of UK-only climate action.
No 10 later said Mr Blair would offset emissions from his holiday flights.No 10 later said Mr Blair would offset emissions from his holiday flights.
'Energy efficiency''Energy efficiency'
During the Sky News interview earlier on Tuesday Mr Blair was asked whether he would give up long-haul flights.During the Sky News interview earlier on Tuesday Mr Blair was asked whether he would give up long-haul flights.
He replied: "I personally think these things are a bit impractical actually to expect people to do that.He replied: "I personally think these things are a bit impractical actually to expect people to do that.
It's like telling people you shouldn't drive anywhere Tony BlairIt's like telling people you shouldn't drive anywhere Tony Blair
"I think that what we need to do is to look at how you make air travel more energy efficient, how you develop the new fuels that will allow us to burn less energy and emit less."I think that what we need to do is to look at how you make air travel more energy efficient, how you develop the new fuels that will allow us to burn less energy and emit less.
"How - for example - in the new frames for the aircraft, they are far more energy efficient.""How - for example - in the new frames for the aircraft, they are far more energy efficient."
He added: "You know, I'm still waiting for the first politician who's actually running for office who's going to come out and say it (that people should not fly) - and they're not.He added: "You know, I'm still waiting for the first politician who's actually running for office who's going to come out and say it (that people should not fly) - and they're not.
"It's like telling people you shouldn't drive anywhere.""It's like telling people you shouldn't drive anywhere."
Demands placed on people had to be reasonable to prevent putting people off climate change sacrifices altogether, Mr Blair added.Demands placed on people had to be reasonable to prevent putting people off climate change sacrifices altogether, Mr Blair added.
'Realistic''Realistic'
He said: "Britain is 2% of the world's emissions. We shut down all of Britain's emissions tomorrow - the growth in China will make up the difference within two years.He said: "Britain is 2% of the world's emissions. We shut down all of Britain's emissions tomorrow - the growth in China will make up the difference within two years.
"So we've got to be realistic about how much obligation we've got to put on ourselves."So we've got to be realistic about how much obligation we've got to put on ourselves.
Here in the UK, his leadership has been patchy, and frankly muddle-headed Jonathon PorrittSustainable Development CommissionHere in the UK, his leadership has been patchy, and frankly muddle-headed Jonathon PorrittSustainable Development Commission
"The danger, for example, if you say to people 'Right, in Britain, you know, you're not going to have any more cheap air travel', everybody else is going to be having it."The danger, for example, if you say to people 'Right, in Britain, you know, you're not going to have any more cheap air travel', everybody else is going to be having it.
"So you've got to do this together and you've got to do it in a way that doesn't end up actually putting people off the green agenda by saying you must not have a good time anymore and can't consume.""So you've got to do this together and you've got to do it in a way that doesn't end up actually putting people off the green agenda by saying you must not have a good time anymore and can't consume."
Environment Secretary David Miliband said Mr Blair was setting an example by off-setting his air travel and using renewable energy in his house.Environment Secretary David Miliband said Mr Blair was setting an example by off-setting his air travel and using renewable energy in his house.
"But what people want to know is that we are in the business of serious policy, not just gestures," he told BBC Radio 4's World at One."But what people want to know is that we are in the business of serious policy, not just gestures," he told BBC Radio 4's World at One.
That serious policy included plans for zero-carbon homes and international measures such as the EU's carbon-trading scheme and the Kyoto Protocol.That serious policy included plans for zero-carbon homes and international measures such as the EU's carbon-trading scheme and the Kyoto Protocol.
Later on Tuesday Mr Blair's official spokesman said the PM had decided that he would make his personal - as well as business travel - carbon neutral by investing in environmental schemes such as growing trees.Later on Tuesday Mr Blair's official spokesman said the PM had decided that he would make his personal - as well as business travel - carbon neutral by investing in environmental schemes such as growing trees.
That decision was welcomed by Jonathon Porritt, chairman of the sustainable development commission, which reports directly to Mr Blair, who criticised the PM's earlier comments.That decision was welcomed by Jonathon Porritt, chairman of the sustainable development commission, which reports directly to Mr Blair, who criticised the PM's earlier comments.
'Exemplary leadership' Jonathon Porritt said Mr Blair was 'wrong' to believe in technology
He said that Mr Blair's was wrong to believe that technology "could get us out of the mess".He said that Mr Blair's was wrong to believe that technology "could get us out of the mess".
He also disagreed with Mr Blair that it was impractical to ask people to make changes, as there was a growing willingness among the public to do so.He also disagreed with Mr Blair that it was impractical to ask people to make changes, as there was a growing willingness among the public to do so.
"The irony here is that the prime minister's leadership, internationally, has been exemplary.""The irony here is that the prime minister's leadership, internationally, has been exemplary."
"He's done more than any other world leader to bring people to a sense of awareness about the importance of climate change. But here in the UK, his leadership has been patchy, and frankly muddle-headed," Mr Porritt said."He's done more than any other world leader to bring people to a sense of awareness about the importance of climate change. But here in the UK, his leadership has been patchy, and frankly muddle-headed," Mr Porritt said.
Scientific doubtsScientific doubts
Some scientists also disagreed with Mr Blair, with the head of transport at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, John Ling, saying it was not possible to "sit back and wait" for scientific solutions. Some experts also disagreed with Mr Blair, with Dr Robert Noland, reader in transport and environmental policy, civil and environmental engineering, at Imperial College, London, said energy efficient aviation, even if they did help, would not reduce air travel's impact now.
"It is engineering that will find the long term solution to these issues, but government and industry need to be doing a lot more in the interim and need to work closer together with engineers to crack this."
And Dr Robert Noland, reader in transport and environmental policy, civil and environmental engineering, at Imperial College, London, said energy efficient aviation, even if they did help, would not reduce air travel's impact now.
"Even if these technologies are being developed now it could be 20 years before we see any impact in the aircraft fleet," he said."Even if these technologies are being developed now it could be 20 years before we see any impact in the aircraft fleet," he said.
'Holding out' Environmental groups added their criticism, with Friends of the Earth head of campaigns Mike Childs said: "It's disappointing that Tony Blair is refusing to set an example on tackling climate change."
Environmental groups added their criticism, with Greenpeace campaigner Emily Armistead saying: "Tony Blair is crossing his fingers and hoping someone will invent aeroplanes that don't cause climate change.
"But that's like holding out for cigarettes that don't cause cancer."
Friends of the Earth head of campaigns Mike Childs said: "It's disappointing that Tony Blair is refusing to set an example on tackling climate change."
He added: "Aviation is the fastest growing source of carbon dioxide in the UK.He added: "Aviation is the fastest growing source of carbon dioxide in the UK.
"But rather than taking steps to curb the rise in air travel, the government is encouraging it by giving the aviation industry multi-billion pound tax breaks and allowing UK airports to expand.""But rather than taking steps to curb the rise in air travel, the government is encouraging it by giving the aviation industry multi-billion pound tax breaks and allowing UK airports to expand."