Climate bill 'to include planes'

Ministers are under pressure over aviation emissions

Aviation and shipping look set to be included in a government bill targeting cuts in greenhouse gases, to head off a rebellion by backbench MPs.

MPs will vote later on a bill to enforce an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050.

More than 50 Labour MPs have backed an amendment calling for the law to cover emissions from planes and tankers.

Ministers said the bill would "take into account" the two sectors, a move welcomed by environmental campaigners.

'Comprehensive approach'

But it is unclear what this will mean in practice and whether ministers will back the rebel amendment, signed by 56 MPs, seeking statutory rather than voluntary targets for aviation and shipping.

The amendment seeks equivalent cuts in emissions elsewhere to make up for any rise in those from the two industries.

The government has resisted calls in the past for such a move, arguing it would be difficult to determine how international aviation and shipping emissions could be allocated between different countries.