Clear skies ahead?

The aviation industry is often labelled one of the major contributors to global warming. But carbon-conscious airlines appear keen to set the record straight, explains Lisa Hodge.

Global warming is the biggest threat to the planet, according to environmental experts and campaigners. It's a worldwide crisis that requires a man-made solution.

Essentially, the planet is heating up as gases produced from vehicles, power plants, deforestation, and other sources form a thick blanket around the world.

The aviation industry is considered one of the biggest contributors to global warming, with temperatures across the planet climbing 1% on average in recent years.

Indeed, with airliners populating the skies, aeroplanes are responsible for producing damaging emissions such as carbon dioxide, water vapour contrails and nitrogen oxides.

To make matters worse, aircraft fly at high altitudes where the effects of carbon pollution increase three-fold.

Putting this into perspective, one short-haul flight emits roughly the same amount of global warming gas as a 1.4-litre car in three months.

Despite efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving aircraft technology and efficiency, the airline industry has made little headway. The problem is attributed to increased global air traffic, which has climbed some 50% during the past decade.

The air traffic increase has led to a rise in fuel consumption, with carbon emissions from aviation up 87% since 1990 - accounting for around 3.5% of human contribution to climate change.

To address the issue, the global Carbon Trading scheme was set up in 1988. The organisation gave governments a choice: either cover the costs of emissions produced by aircraft flying to and from their respective countries, or pay someone else to cut their pollution.

Carbon trading sets a cap on emissions across all sectors, with individual firms allowed to produce specified amounts. If businesses exceed their allowance, they must either reduce their emissions or buy extra allowances from other organisations that have some to spare.

By 2005, a new initiative was introduced following the rapid growth in air traffic. The Kyoto Treaty stipulated that industrialised countries would have to cut their emission levels by 5.2% between 2008 and 2012.

Scientists have developed this theory further by suggesting that ‘personal carbon trading' should be introduced, whereby individuals are given a carbon quota. A frequent flyer would be able to "buy airspace" from someone who has a low energy-use lifestyle.

According to some economists, the scheme may have a positive impact on poorer countries and people living in poverty that could "sell" their carbon quota.

Through its participation in the UK's voluntary carbon trading scheme, British Airways (BA) has reduced its contribution to UK emissions by 23%.

"By participating in the UK scheme we have demonstrated that trading can be applied to aircraft emissions. Plus, BA has gained practical experience for the future," says a British Airways spokesperson.

"We have played a leading role for the last eight years in calling for airlines to be included in global carbon trading, campaigning publicly and lobbying the UK government and the European Union."

Such campaigning has forced the European Commission to modify its legislation on the carbon trading scheme by including aviation from 2011. But BA wants a quicker introduction of the revamped clause.

Whether the EC obliges remains to be seen. But regardless of how quickly the new rules are applied, BA is seemingly determined to prove its green credentials.

Aside from its recycling schemes, the airline has saved more than 60,000 tons of CO2 emissions in two years by flying shorter routes over China and Brazil, refining landing and take-off procedures and fitting new seats in A320 aircraft.

Under the EU's carbon trading scheme, airlines have to pay for exceeding their current emission levels. All flights within Europe will come under the Emissions Trading Scheme's jurisdiction by 2011.

Some 12 months later, the scheme will be expanded to include all international flights that arrive at or depart from any EU airport.

Airlines may be issued with pollution permits, with those cutting emissions able to sell their surplus.

Meanwhile, a carrier that increases its emissions would have to buy more permits.

But problems have already emerged with the US questioning whether it's legal, under global trading rules, to force EU-bound airlines to take part in the scheme. Some reports have even suggested that several US airlines are considering legal action to overturn the decision.

To date, the aviation sector has been under little pressure to address climate change. But increased lobbying from activists and environmentalists may see the industry facing more business growth challenges in the coming years.

Expanding Heathrow Airport, one of the world's biggest hubs, has caused major controversy among green campaigners.

Supporters of the expansion say a third runway is fundamental to maintaining Heathrow as Britain's gateway to the global economy.