Public attitudes to flying have hardened in favour of a tax on air travel to try to curb harmful the CO2 emissions that cause global warming.  A major public survey published yesterday by the Office for National Statistics showed that 44 per cent now support the idea that those who fly should bear the cost of the environmental damage they cause.  

The findings suggest a growing number of people in Britain would support an extra tax on airlines to deter more people from flying. Only 31 per cent said they were opposed to taxing air travel for environmental reasons and 25 per cent said they were flying less because of their worries about climate change.  The poll also found growing support for a number of other environmental measures, including the use of energy-saving lightbulbs, as reported in yesterday's Independent.  

The figures give an insightful picture of the "greening" of life in the average British household: 64 per cent say they never leave their televisions on standby overnight and never leave their mobile phone charger plugged in.  About 50 per cent said they never leave lights on in unoccupied rooms. More than 40 per cent said they never leave a tap running when brushing their teeth and a similar number always switch off the heating off when they're out. But it was not all good news for Britain's eco-friendly image.

About 26 per cent always use their own shopping bags but 37 per cent never do. About 23 per cent still leave the tap running when brushing their teeth and 18 per cent leave the television on standby overnight.  A more complete survey is due to be published in September but ministers will use the findings to back up their public demands for more environmentally conscious behaviour by the public.  So far, the Treasury has not dared to impose a tax on air travel for environmental reasons (the Tories had to retreat over such a policy when it was floated before the summer). But the findings suggest that public opinion could be swinging in favour of a "polluter pays" principle.  
(By Colin Brown, The Independent, 15/08/2007)