According to the European Commission, 11% of UK climate change impact is due to aviation, and emissions from air transport within the EU are increasing more quickly than in any other sector.

Flying is particularly bad for the environment, for as well as emitting CO2, planes also create ozone and methane - other greenhouse gases. Planes also cause condensation trails (known in the trade as contrails) and are suspected to increase cirrus clouds - all factors which contribute to negative climate change.

These factors then all combine, resulting in the cumulative effect of flying being twice as bad as burning the same amount of fossil fuel on the ground.

However, in its defence the aviation industry points out that overall, flying only counts for 2% of worldwide emissions. Road transport however counts for 25%, as does power generation.

References: Guardian Unlimited