Walsh dismisses global warming hype
Aviation has been unfairly branded a major cause of global warming when the opposite is true, according to British Airway chief executive Willie Walsh.
He said the public debate has created the myth that airlines are the single biggest producer of carbon monoxide.
The reality is that aviation contributes a minor percentage of CO2 emissions.
“We need some context in this debate,” said Walsh. “According to latest official estimates, the UK generates 2% of global CO2 emissions. Aviation, including international flights, is responsible for just over 5% of UK emissions.
“So the contribution of UK aviation to global emissions is around 0.1%.
“In other words, if you took the most extreme policy option imaginable and banned all future domestic and international flights from the UK, the effect on global warming would be miniscule.”
He said it remained crucial that aviation take action on emissions but dismissed the notion that flying is a “selfish, anti-social activity that single handedly threatens planetary catastrophe.”
“[It] bears no resemblance to the evidence,” he said.
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