British Airways launches green initiative

British Airways took fresh steps today to intensify its work in limiting aviation’s impact on climate change. The airline unveiled a new carbon offset scheme, and backing for deforestation prevention in Brazil and research into the effects of aircraft’s non-carbon emissions.

The upgraded offset scheme uses UN certified emissions reductions to help finance clean energy projects in developing countries.

Customers offsetting their flight emissions will be supporting a new windfarm in one of the poorest regions of China, as well as run-of-the-river hydro electric plants in China and Brazil.

The scheme is more user-friendly with customers able to buy their offset in one transaction when they book their flight on ba.com.

Hilary Benn, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, welcomed the scheme: “After avoiding and reducing our emissions, offsetting has a role to play in helping us all to tackle climate change. That's why Government has been working to set up a code of best practice for companies who sell carbon offsetting,” he said.

“I hope this welcome scheme will encourage BA customers to offset their flights and so help to tackle emissions from aviation.”

In addition to the offset scheme, British Airways is to invest in a range of projects to help protect the Brazilian rainforest and improve understanding of ways of combating one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases.

British Airways will also back work led by Cambridge University aimed at establishing robust scientific understanding of the non-CO2 effects of aviation by 2012.

Silla Maizey, head of corporate responsibility, said the new initiatives underlined the seriousness of the airline’s commitment to tackling climate change.

She went on: “We were the first airline to offer carbon offsets, and we intend to remain at the forefront in this area.

“Customers will find our new scheme a simple one-click process on ba.com.

“The UN framework guarantees that offset payments will lead to genuine reductions in emissions through the projects we have chosen with our new provider, Morgan Stanley.

“We need a broad response to climate change: controlling our emissions with cleaner aircraft, the inclusion of aviation in emissions trading and the setting of tough international emissions targets.

“Offsetting is closely related to emissions trading. It is valuable in itself and improves general understanding of how carbon trading works.

“We are also very pleased to help protect valuable rainforests, and address one of the most crucial factors in global warming.

“The work at Cambridge will examine another important aspect of climate change – and underlines the breadth of our approach to the whole issue.”

For wider information about British Airways’ environmental record and policies, click on Ba.com/cr.