Airlines aim for green takeoff

CONCERNED about climate change, a UK-based aviation group plans to introduce a new range of aircraft by 2020 that would produce 50 per cent less carbon emissions than equivalent new aircraft did in 2000.

This, the Sustainable Aviation Group (SAG) believes, will contribute to world efforts aimed at reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, one of the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change. Other targets of SAG include reducing nitrogen oxides by 80 per cent and noise by 50 per cent.In a statement, SAG says its members – which includes British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Airbus UK – have pledged to co-operate with scientists in investigating the impact of emissions at altitude.The airlines will also encourage their passengers to make voluntary contributions to offset their carbon emissions.In the statement, SAG chairman Max Hastings says environmental taxes that are currently being charged on flights were a “blunt, inappropriate and ineffective weapon”.He warned that growth in demand for air travel may well exceed growth in technology’s ability to offset emissions.Meanwhile, a recent study by Britain’s Manchester University has concluded that if the British aviation industry was expanding by 8 per cent annually and continues to expand even at just two-thirds of this rate, the UK government’s entire emissions targets will be undermined, as pollution from aircraft alone would exceed the national target.The University did a study into the UK’s plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by the year 2050.The government’s own estimates are that Britain’s passenger numbers will more than double from 200 million to 470 million over the next 25 years.Other targets of SAG include reducing nitrogen oxides by 80 per cent and noise by 50 per cent.In a statement, SAG says its members – which includes British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Airbus UK – have pledged to co-operate with scientists in investigating the impact of emissions at altitude.The airlines will also encourage their passengers to make voluntary contributions to offset their carbon emissions.In the statement, SAG chairman Max Hastings says environmental taxes that are currently being charged on flights were a “blunt, inappropriate and ineffective weapon”.He warned that growth in demand for air travel may well exceed growth in technology’s ability to offset emissions.Meanwhile, a recent study by Britain’s Manchester University has concluded that if the British aviation industry was expanding by 8 per cent annually and continues to expand even at just two-thirds of this rate, the UK government’s entire emissions targets will be undermined, as pollution from aircraft alone would exceed the national target.The University did a study into the UK’s plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by the year 2050.The government’s own estimates are that Britain’s passenger numbers will more than double from 200 million to 470 million over the next 25 years.