Climate change summit will unveil airlines’ CO2 targets

Leaders of the airline industry will make a spectacular pledge this week at the United Nations forum on climate change being held in New York. By the year 2050 they aim to cut CO2 levels by 50 per cent, but this could lead to a dramatic rise in the cost of flying and result in a race for greener aircraft from worldwide manufacturers.

The chief executive of British Airways, Willie Walsh, is expected to be making the promise to the UN meeting on behalf of all airlines, manufacturers and airports. The move has stepped up a gear as they aim to beat the environmental groups who are campaigning for higher taxes on aviation travel. Some of these groups have accused the world of being slow to react in regard to climate change and were planning to speak out at the global warming summit in Denmark later this year.

A worldwide plan on reducing carbon dioxide emissions will involve airlines having to purchase permits for CO2 output. Mr Walsh said this cost could be around £3 billion a year, and would be passed onto the passengers. The EU commission says that this would equate to about £8-9 per passenger for a short-haul return flight and around £40 for a long haul flight.