Environment Minister criticises Ryanair over environment
05.01.07
The Government's environment minister has launched an outspoken attack on the airline industry over failure to tackle carbon emissions. Speaking to the Guardian newspaper, Minister Ian Pearson called the budget airline Ryanair the 'irresponsible face of capitalism'. He also said that US airlines' attitude to cutting emissions was 'a disgrace'.
The EU is to include airlines in its carbon trading scheme, which will see them pay for exceeding their current level of emissions. Airlines will be issued with pollution permits. Those that cut emissions would be able to sell their surplus while an airline that increased its emissions would have to buy more permits.
Flights within Europe will come under the jurisdiction of the Emissions Trading Scheme by 2011. The scheme would be expanded from 2012 to include all international flights that arrive at or depart from an EU airport.
Ryanair is opposed efforts to control carbon emissions in this way, saying a trading scheme would discriminate against low-cost airlines. The US has questioned whether it would be legal within global trading rules to force airlines flying into the EU to take part in the scheme. There are reports that US airlines are considering legal action to overturn the EU's plans.
In the interview with the Guardian, Mr Pearson also attacked BA, saying it was 'only just playing ball' in the battle to cut carbon emissions, but much of the minister's frustration was directed at Ryanair, whose chief executive Michael O'Leary has said his company's carbon emissions will continue rising.
Mr Pearson told the newspaper: 'When it comes to climate change, Ryanair are not just the unacceptable face of capitalism, they are the irresponsible face of capitalism. O'Leary just seems to take pride in refusing to recognise that climate change is a genuine problem'
Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary has attacked calls to introduce taxes on airlines to help cut carbon emissions as 'environmental claptrap'. A spokesman for the airline told the newspaper that Mr Pearson was misinformed. He added: 'Ryanair has spent over £5 billion on a fleet of fuel-efficient engines which have reduced fuel burn by 45 percent and cut CO2 emissions by 50 percent per passenger, making Ryanair Europe's greenest airline.'
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