To be able to reduce demand for polluting short-haul flights, Scotland must be part of any new high-speed rail network, say WWF Scotland.

The environmental group made the call following comments by UK transport secretary, Lord Adonis, that to reduce climate emissions the country needed to "systematically replace short-haul aviation with high-speed rail".

WWF Scotland Director, Dr Richard Dixon, said: "Aviation is the fastest growing source of climate pollution so it is critical, if Scotland is to cut emissions, that more sustainable transport options must be promoted.

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"We therefore welcome the transport secretary's ambition. However, to be able to reduce demand for polluting short-haul flights Scotland must be part of any new high-speed rail network planned in the UK. In addition, government must ensure that rail travel remains affordable for the public and that the aviation industry is made to pay for the true environmental damage that air travel causes."

Dr Dixion believes a high speed rail system which improves Scotland's connection with the rest of the UK and Europe has a role to play in cutting emissions from flying.

Last month, a major Scottish public body and four major companies with operations in Scotland publicly committed to cutting their flights by one-fifth within five years.

Marks & Spencer, Premiere Global, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Vodafone UK and CapGemini are founding members of WWF's 'One in Five Challenge'. The guided programme aims to help businesses cut 20% of their flights by 2014.

(GK/KMcA)