Britons top table of carbon emissions from planes

LONDON (Reuters) - Britons are the world's worst offenders when it comes to carbon emissions from air travel, according to figures published on Wednesday by market research company Global TGI.

Not only are Britain's average air emissions per adult the highest out of the 20 countries covered at 603 kg per year, they are also a third higher than second-placed Ireland's 434 kg and more than double the 275 kg from third-placed Americans.

"There are clearly a number of reasons for it, some of which include the British weather and people wanting to get away from that, some of which are to do with our being an island," said spokesman Geoff Wicken.

"But the rapid growth in low-cost flying has undoubtedly been a factor," he told Reuters.

The British government has pledged to cut the country's carbon emissions as part of the battle against global warming, but it is also backing rapid expansion of air travel.

It has come under relentless pressure from climate campaigners to curb airport expansion and has called for flights to be included in the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme.

Scientists say carbon emissions from flights are at least twice as harmful to the environment as those at sea level.

However, the road carbon emissions of Britons at 2.4 metric tons per adult are less than one third of Americans' 7.5 metric tons.

In fact overall American adults have the biggest annual travel carbon footprint in the world at 7.8 metric tons, more than double France's 3.7 metric tons, which comes in at number two.