Branson unveils aviation overhaul to curb global warming

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2006

NEW YORK (AFP) — British tycoon Richard Branson urged the aviation industry to join his Virgin Atlantic airline in an ambitious plan to combat the potential "catastrophe" of global warming. The billionaire founder of the Virgin Group of companies said that airlines around the world had to play their part in reducing commercial planes' carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to one-quarter.

"We need to accelerate the pace at which we reduce aviation's impact on the environment," Branson said in a letter to industry leaders including the bosses of British Airways, American Airlines and low-cost flyer Easyjet. "We cannot ignore that aviation does create environmental problems -- around 2.0 percent of global CO2 emissions -- although equally it produces significant economic and...