23 January 2009

BA makes pledge to halve carbon emissions by 2050

British Airways has pledged to halve its CO2 emissions by 2050, claiming this is the most ambitious target set by any airline.

It has promised to reduce its net carbon output from 16 million tonnes in 2005 to eight million by the middle of the century.

Chief executive Willie Walsh said: ââ¬ÅâœSome people say that in economic times as desperately tough as these, we can afford to put climate change issues on one side. I could not disagree more.

ââ¬ÅâœHalving net CO2 by 2050 is an extremely challenging target. But it is one I am sure we can achieve.ââ¬~

He said the target would be achieved through investment in cleaner aircraft, use of alternative fuels, more efficient flight routings and the spread of emissions trading from Europe to the whole world.

ââ¬ÅâœWe have taken climate change issues very seriously for a long time. More than a decade ago, we became the first airline to publish fuel efficiency targets ââ¬' and we have achieved an improvement since then of almost 30%.

ââ¬ÅâœWe are the only airline to have experience of emissions trading, and we have helped fund research into lower-carbon aviation fuels. We are currently working closely with Rolls-Royce to develop alternative fuel opportunities.ââ¬~

In a speech to the Indian School of Business, Walsh also shared his predictions for the UK economy.

He warned that economic recovery in the UK was at least two years away.

ââ¬ÅâœFor us in the UK, the outlook is certainly no easier than anywhere else. Because of the high importance of the financial services sector, it is perhaps a bleaker outlook than in other countries.

ââ¬ÅâœAt the moment, I would expect things to continue getting worse rather than better.

ââ¬ÅâœI cannot see the bottom of this crisis yet. There is some distance to go, and I would expect this very difficult environment to last for at least another 24 months.ââ¬~


By Bev Fearis

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• ... and 2 - 7 Any More, anyone?
  
  

  2. Make all planes use wood burning engines from sustainable forests. 3. Save weight by having all trolly dollys wear bikins. (or stewards, depending on your inclination) 4. Save tyres. Get that gadget they have on lorries that raises one set of wheels when load is light. 5. Fit wooly mufflers over engine exhausts. 6. Make all flights longhaul and just give parachutes to people that want intermediate stops. 7. Fly very slowly, then the fuel won't get used up as quick.

  By Murray Harrold, Friday, January 23, 2009
• Ideas for Making Our Wullie's Planes More Eco-Friendly (1)
  
  

  Easy enough - switch off one engine!

  By Murray Harrold, Friday, January 23, 2009