Controversial environmental campaigner and botanist David Bellamy has claimed the world is getting colder and aviation should not be blamed for climate change.

An outspoken critic of claims that global warming is man-made, he was talking during Haven Holidays’ Big Green Weekend event last week, designed to promote eco-friendly domestic tourism.

“In the next 24 hours the amount of deforestation will pour the same amount of CO2 into the atmosphere as eight million people flying from Britain to America. So stop the logging and we can stop the problem,” he said.

“There is more proof that global warming is natural climate change and we have to adapt to it. In the past 17 years the temperature has actually gone down.”

Bellamy, who has faced widespread criticism for his unorthodox views, also said there is now more sea ice at the poles than ever before and that, despite concerns about climate change driving polar bears to extinction, their numbers had trebled.

However, Rachel Noble, campaigns officer at Tourism Concern, said: “Human beings are contributors to climate change and aviation is a part of that.

“Every individual is responsible for their actions, including where and how they travel.”

Michelle di Leo, director of pro-aviation group FlyingMatters, said: “We don’t disagree with those who say climate change is
a serious issue because as far as we’re concerned the science is there.

“Where we do agree [with Professor Bellamy] is if policy makers focus on what is, globally, just 2% of emissions we could miss the chance of cutting more damaging sources without damaging the social and economic welfare that flying brings us.”

All 35 Haven parks took part in environmentally aware family activities, and employees were asked to make “simple and achievable” personal green pledges.

“Every year at the height of the season there are 10,000 bums on beaches,” Bellamy said of Britain’s coastline.

“They can either destroy it, or, if its done properly, bring money into local, rural economies.”