03 June 2009

Branson seeks action on climate change

Governments must act decisively to combat carbon emissions and airlines should pay the price to help the environment, according to Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson.

He made the plea in advance of a summit on climate change to be held in Copenhagen at the end of the year.

Sir Richard, speaking in Japan during celebrations to mark the 20^th anniversary of Virgin Atlantic starting operations on the London-Tokyo route, said: "All countries must support governments in making sure that there is a good treaty to reduce carbon output dramatically.

"We know there is a price to pay as an airline. As long as all airlines pay the same, we are happy to pay."

Sir Richard previously disclosed to TravelMole plans to establish a ‘carbon war room’ to act as a centre for collating the best ideas globally for tackling global warming.

More details are due to emerge following the airline marking its 25^th anniversary in New York later this month.

Sir Richard has pledged that all profits from Virgin Group’s transportation interests, including the airline and Virgin Trains, will be ploughed back over the next ten years to help create new renewable technologies. This is being done through an investment group called Virgin Fuels.

He told TravelMole that £300 million had already been committed to this but warned that arbitrary taxes such as Air Passenger Duty imposed by the UK government would hinder Virgin’s investment opportunities.

"The more they [the government] taxes us, the less we will have to invest in clean energy," he said.

by Phil Davies in Toyko