SOUTH West Green MEP Molly Scott Cato has urged residents to make a 'flight free 2020' pledge.

Speaking in a debate about climate change and aviation, she said: "Most flights are taken by the wealthy.

"Seventy per cent of flights are taken by just 15 per cent of the UK population, while on average UK residents only fly once every two years.

"And we should remember that the poorest in the world will never board a plane. This makes flying an equality issue. Rich people are taking the most flights and trashing the planet, but we will all pay the price. So choosing not to fly is an important commitment to social justice as well as to the climate.”

Ms Cato says shunning flying in favour of different modes of transport is "the most important single thing we can do individually to protect our climate."

She also says she has only taken one flight in the past five years, which was to Latin America on an official EU visit.

Her regular visits to Latvia, Lisbon, Poland and Gibraltar are made by a combination of train, other overland travel and ferry

"Once you’ve made the decision not to fly there’s a whole new world to explore," said Ms Cato. "Life really can be better without flying.

"I want to challenge the idea that it’s normal to take frequent short flights.

"It is not a normal part of most people’s lives.”