Flak Over Offset Program Continues For British Airways

July 25, 2007

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

British Airways program that allows customers to offset carbon dioxide emissions from their flights is “risible,” a committee of U.K. lawmakers said, Bloomberg reports.

The plan allows passengers to buy carbon credits to offest their flights. Started with “fanfare” in 2005, the program’s profile has since been “almost non-existent,’” the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee said today in an e-mailed report.

“British Airways has encouraged the purchase of only 1,600 tons of offsets on average each year, approximately the emissions from four return flights to New York on a 777,” the committee said in a report on the voluntary offsetting market. “This is risible.”

In March, MPs accused BA of not being “very adventurous” in marketing the program, claiming passengers did not know where to look for information and check-in staff had “blank expressions” when asked about it.

The Hodgkinson Group recently released a report, “Strategies for Airlines on Aircraft Emissions and Climate Change: Sustainable, Long-Term Solutions,” that evaluates possible strategies for airlines on aircraft emissions and climate change, including emissions trading.

Delta recently became the first U.S. airline to offer consumers a similar option.

Other airlines, including Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Blue, and SAS have similar programs.

The city of Denver is considering kiosks at DIA where travelers can buy carbon offsets.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Best Practices: Product Environmental Compliance

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

One of the problems with the low take-up of offsets is that consumers often have little understanding of the concept or operation of offsetting, or the issues surrounding it. To help overcome this, our organisation Zerofootprint, which provides offset facilities to Air Canada, has published a guide to offsetting in the form of a booklet that is free to download from our website.

Clive Davidson | July 27th, 2007

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader