Environment Agency staff will no longer be allowed to fly anywhere in England and Wales and will now have to journey by train. Flights to Paris and Brussels are also banned.
However, in recognition of the slow and expensive rail service, staff will be allowed to travel to Edinburgh and Glasgow by plane in exceptional circumstances.
The organisation in charge of protecting the UK’s environment has already reduced business car mileage by 24 per cent (11 million miles) over the last four years and is expected to save approximately 30 tonnes of carbon a year through its new policy.
Environment Agency Chief Executive, Dr Paul Leinster said staff would only travel when necessary. He stated, "We aim to lead the way on environmental performance. Our restriction on domestic air travel builds on previous and continuing action on business mileage, energy use, waste to landfill and renewable energy generation. It's another important step in reducing our carbon emissions. Reducing energy use, carbon emissions and waste can all help to reduce operating costs and environmental impacts.”
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been criticised for allowing staff to take more than 1,000 domestic flights, including 26 return flights to Manchester that can be reached in two-and-a-half hours by train.
Environmental groups welcomed the Environment Agency’s action and said other Government agencies must now implement a similar policy.
