Dozens of UK officials fly to Danish climate talks

"Inflexible": Environment minister Joan Ruddock has defended the flights
12 April 2012

The Government came under fire today for flying dozens of officials to Copenhagen for the world summit to tackle climate change.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change is sending 36 officials and two ministers. Nineteen have already said they plan to fly.

Four Foreign Office officials will also take the plane to the Danish capital for the talks on a pact on fighting global warming. One is due to go by train.

Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband and environment minister Joan Ruddock will lead the delegation before Gordon Brown flies in with a "tight-knit" party of No 10 officials.

A small number of officials from the overseas aid department, the Cabinet Office and one from the business department are also due to attend.

Liberal Democrat climate change spokesman Simon Hughes branded it "extraordinary" that at least half the energy department delegation will travel by plane.

"It is unacceptable for ministers and public servants, wanting to change the way the world does business, to travel in the way that produces the most damaging emissions when alternatives are clearly available," said the MP for Southwark North and Bermondsey, who is to go to Copenhagen by train.

It is possible to do the train journey in a day on a weekday, leaving London St Pancras at 5.57am and arriving in Copenhagen at 10.11pm having changed at Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg.

Shadow climate change secretary Greg Clark added: "It is important Britain has representation at Copenhagen but I am surprised that 36 officials are needed."

Environment minister Ms Ruddock said: "At present 19 delegates have confirmed their intention to travel to the conference by air. This is necessary as the rail options are limited, and inflexible." She stressed that officials had meetings which restricted their travel times.

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