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The health secretary has rejected a suggestion that the public should be flying less to save the planet.
Matt Hancock said the real solution to the climate emergency was greener planes, although he admitted he was unsure when such options would be introduced.
Following the controversial bail-out of airline Flybe, Mr Hancock was asked on BBC Radio 5 whether people should be flying less, to which he replied: “Nope”.
He added: “Connectivity around the country is incredibly important… At the same time flying has already decarbonised and can decarbonise more.”
When pressed on addressing the “climate catastrophe” and whether the public should be willing to make sacrifices – such as catching the train rather than flying to Aberdeen from London – Mr Hancock again replied that technology was instead the solution.
“I have flown from London to Aberdeen and I would again if it was necessary,” he said.
Nicky Cambell asked: “Shouldn’t we make those sacrifices considering what is happening to our planet?”
Mr Hancock replied: “No, we should use technology to reduce carbon emissions for instance electric planes are a potential in the not to distant future.”
He added: “I’m here to talk about the health service (but) I’m told that electric planes are on the horizon if that’s not pushing the metaphor too far.”
The comments come amid growing criticism of the government for signalling it will cut air taxes to rescue Flybe, while claiming it can still hit its climate targets.
They also follow criticism of business secretary Andrea Leadsom’s comments after she claimed using recycled cooking oil to fuel aeroplanes could help solve the climate emergency.
