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  Today Online 24 Jan 07
Get on the flight to self-preservation
 Liang Dingzi

CONCERNS about climate change are receiving plenty of attention this week, with United States President George W Bush tackling it in his State of the Union address and European leaders discussing it at the World Economic Forum.

The aviation industry has not escaped attention--only natural, when aircraft are one of the fastest growing sources of carbon and other more powerful greenhouse gases, thanks to falling airfares and the proliferation of budget carriers.

According to the European Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas, aviation emissions have gone up by about 90 per cent since 1990 and will double by 2020.

Since it is unlikely that air travel will be curbed, how obligated are airlines--as well as airport managements--to participate in the fight against climate change? Such as, for a start, by contributing to the costs of such efforts?

Already, the European Commission has imposed a price for carbon emissions, to be paid by the airlines when they exceed current levels. European airlines will purchase emissions allowances in a trading scheme (an airline that is able to cut its emissions can sell its surplus permits, while one that increases emissions must buy extra permits).

This will force airlines to recognise the cost of carbon emission and consider more efficient ways of using of fossil fuel. Passengers will also have to pay a higher departure tax on air tickets, to help fund programmes in the fight against climate change.

Predictably, this has upset many airlines, such as budget carrier Ryanair which foresees the cost of air travel increasing by as much as 35 per cent--a fact that does not augur well for low-cost operators.

And therein lies the issue of businesses' responsibilities, as citizens of the global community. At what point does it become morally unacceptable to profit at the expense of the community's welfare?

There is an argument to be made for airlines and airport managements to contribute either directly to "green" efforts such as programmes aimed at developing new technologies and alternative fuels, or indirectly through regulatory controls.

Two airlines have set examples other airlines can emulate. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic has begun trials in London airports to slash aviation fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions, by towing its aircraft to take-off areas, thus reducing engines' running times before take-off. The airline estimates it could save up to two tonnes of fuel per flight.

Virgin Atlantic hopes to extend its trials to other international airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. It said it can reduce 120,000 tonnes in carbon emissions a year if this is practiced across its fleet.

The other airline is WestJet, which--in partnership with a Vancouver-based non-profit organisation known as the Offsetters--will donate a portion of the fare to carbon-offsetting projects, when passengers book online. This amount reflects the passenger's share of the cost of greenhouse gas emission during the flight.

Airlines and airports in this region can similarly demonstrate their support.

The expected growth in traffic with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' "open skies" in 2008 must be complemented by a collective effort to reduce greenhouse gas emission by the industry.

On the ground, airport authorities can encourage the use of electric equipment or hybrids not completely powered by fossil fuel--in the spirit of the agreement among leaders at the recent East Asian summit in Cebu to invest in eco-friendly fuels. They can similarly introduce incentives for ground operators to reduce carbon emissions.

In pledging to contribute £1.6 billion ($4.8 billion) from the Virgin Group's profits to fund renewable energy initiatives, Sir Richard believes that up to 25 per cent of the world's aviation carbon dioxide emissions can be cut if airlines, airports and governments work together.

It is a message for both friends and foes in the business: The battle against climate change is not between the airlines and regulators, but one to be fought together to save the world.

The writer, a Singaporean management consultant, is retired from the aviation industry.
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