Climate crisis: Tory minister tells public to keep flying and denies sacrifices needed to save planet

Matt Hancock says electric planes will cut carbon emissions – then admits he has no idea when they can be brought in

The health secretary says the public can carry on flying as often as before despite the climate emergency, rejecting the idea of “sacrifices” to save the planet.

Matt Hancock said the solution was greener planes, such as those powered by electricity – although he admitted he did not know when they could be introduced.

Asked if people should be “flying less” because of the “climate catastrophe” – following the controversial bail-out of Flybe – he replied: “Nope.”

And, asked if he would fly from London to Aberdeen, Mr Hancock said: “Yes of course it that’s necessary... If I needed to get to Aberdeen and I didn’t have time to take the train.”

The comments come amid growing criticism of the government for signalling it will cut air taxes to rescue Flybe, while claiming it can still hit its climate targets.

But Mr Hancock said ministers were right to step in to save regional flights, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “Being able to connect different parts of the country is important.”

He claimed: “Flying has already decarbonised and can decarbonise more,” and – when it was suggested “sacrifices” will be necessary to address the climate crisis – replied: “No”.

“We should use technology to reduce carbon emissions. For instance, electric planes are a potential in the not too distant future,” the health secretary said.

However, asked when they would come in, he admitted: “I’m actually here to talk about the health service – you will have to get the transport secretary on.

“I’m told that electric planes are on the horizon, if that’s not pushing the metaphor too far.”

Greenpeace attacked the comments, accusing him either of ignorance about the damage planes cause or that he “simply doesn’t care”.

“Either Matt Hancock thinks planes run on fairy dust, or he does know they’re a major source of planet-heating emissions but simply doesn’t care,” said John Sauven, its executive director.

“Whichever it is, his comments fly in the face of the Conservative manifesto commitment to tackling the climate emergency.”

And Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat climate emergency spokesperson, said: “This Tory government is happy to promote flying despite the climate emergency and the damage air pollution can do to our planet?

“In the year the UK is hosting the COP26 climate change conference, the country needs a government that takes the climate emergency seriously.”

The comments come after Andrea Leadsom, the business secretary, was criticised for claiming using recycled cooking oil to fuel aeroplanes can help solve the climate emergency.

The government’s own climate advisers have warned the aviation industry must not rely on biofuels to offset an increase in emissions in the years to come.

Ministers have also admitted they will not decide how to fund a strategy to end the UK’s contribution to climate change until the end of the year.

The government has already been fiercely criticised for lacking urgency and practical solutions for tackling the climate emergency in announcements so far.

The climate crisis was barely mentioned by Boris Johnson during the election campaign and he boycotted the Channel 4 debate on the issue – in which he was replaced by a melting ice sculpture.