Airlines call for global carbon caps

Four of the world’s biggest airlines will today call upon governments around the world to impose strict carbon caps on their industry as part of the post-Kyoto deal to be agreed in Copenhagen later this year.

The Aviation Global Deal (AGD) – whose members include British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Air France/KLM and Virgin Atlantic – will present their proposals to UN climate negotiators in Bonn, Germany.

The airlines – seemingly an unlikely group to call for carbon caps – want to make sure that the industry is able to work on a level playing field around the world rather than being subject to a “patchwork of regional initiatives”.

According to the AGD, a global cap-and-trade scheme for airlines would provide a clear and fair incentive for airlines to cut carbon emissions.

The money raised from carbon trading should be invested in renewable energy technologies and climate change activities in developing countries, the AGD will propose.

Mark Kenber, policy director at The Climate Group, an AGD member, said:

“It is a significant step forward for leading aviation players to come to the negotiating table with constructive ideas about how to transition to a low carbon economy.”