Airport trial told carbon emissions cuts 'not enough'

Plans to dramatically cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 are not high enough to prevent "dangerous" climate change, an expert has claimed.

Dr Alice Bows made the warning while appearing for the defence in the trial of nine people alleged to have caused major disruption at Aberdeen Airport.

She said the aviation industry caused particular harm to the environment.

The trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court follows an incident at the airport in March 2009.

A group called Plane Stupid was involved in the incident.

Dr Bows, from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in Manchester, said government carbon reduction plans were "welcome" but not enough.

The defendants are Mark Andrews, 26, from Edinburgh; William Boggia, 44, from Ballater, Aberdeenshire; Matilda Gifford, 25, Daniel Glass, 26, Emilia Karwowska, 20, Jonathan Agnew, 24, and Josephine Hanson, 25, all from Glasgow; James Kerr, 35, from Paisley, Renfrewshire; and Katherine Mackay, 21, from Shipley, West Yorkshire.