EU Carbon Emissions Gets Personal For Gordon Brown

On Monday, a French environment magazine claimed that Gordon Brown, the UK’s Prime Minister chalked up a higher level of carbon emissions than President Sarkozy of France, Chancellor Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister Zapatero of Spain.

The magazine says that Brown emitted in excess of 8,400 tonnes of CO2 during official journeys last year.

In second place was Germany’s Angela Merkel at 7,400 tonnes; third was President Sarkozy at 7,100 tonnes followed by Spain’s Prime Minister Zapatero, at 6,700 tonnes.

Brown emitted more carbon because he allegedly flies in larger jets, with lower fuel-efficiency.

Although the UK government would not say which aircraft he used for reasons of security, it is believed he flew in Boeing 777, 347, and 357s and went by Eurostar to Paris and Brussels, clocking in at 157,962 kms.

Sarkozy, in an Airbus A 319, flew 324,000 kms, the same as eight around the globe flights; Merkel and Zapatero in A 310s did 175,000 kms each.

A large family car with average fuel consumption travelling 12,000 miles a year creates approximately five tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Cheaper airfares and growing personal incomes have resulted in a surge in air travel, and increases in international manufacturing signifies more shipments by air and sea, which together represent 5 percent of human CO2 emissions.