| The air freight industry is under attack by The Soil | | | | The issue is clearly a contentious one. Climate change |
| Association and other green campaigners who are | | | | is a very real problem as freak weather patterns |
| worried about the environmental impact of importing | | | | around the globe are demonstrating. As a result, |
| out of season produce into the UK from abroad. | | | | green issues are at the top of the political agenda of |
| They claim that the damage caused by pollution from | | | | all of the major parties in Britain. |
| flights transporting food around the world supports | | | | This is a reflection of the concern that the public at |
| their call for a ban on the air-freighting of certain | | | | large has been shown to have for this issue. The |
| food. | | | | government is therefore under pressure to address |
| The freight industry has responded strongly to this | | | | the electorate's concerns and make some changes |
| argument by explaining that the gases produced by | | | | which may affect the freight industry in a negative |
| air freight transportation only account for a small | | | | way. |
| percentage of the UK's total carbon emissions. | | | | One of the measures that they are considering is |
| Plus the transportation of out of season food stuffs | | | | labeling food to show the amount of miles it has had |
| into the UK represents a small proportion of the total | | | | to travel to get to the UK. These 'food miles' as they |
| food produce flown into the country. | | | | are called are meant to be an indication of the |
| Furthermore, organic food which is being particularly | | | | environmental cost of bring a particular item into the |
| targeted by The Soil Association requires around 15% | | | | country. The other option that they are considering is |
| less energy to farm than the same amount of | | | | the proposal put forward by The Soil Association to |
| non-organic food. | | | | ban the importation of organic food by air freight. |