The growing airline industry is now responsible for the biggest increase in carbon emissions. As such, ministers in the European Union are due to come together to agree on the best strategy to cut the amount of greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere by the airlines. It is believed that ministers from throughout the Union will agree that emissions will have to be cut by 10 percent on 2005 levels by 2020.
Some are however beginning to question whether such aims are practical. International Air Transport Association representative, Quentin Browell says that he does not think a figure of 10 percent is realistic. He points out that even though the industry is looking to improve its fuel efficiency year on year, hitting a 10 percent reduction in emissions by 2020 is unlikely.
Energy and climate change secretary, Ed Milliband said that because he didn’t want to see a situation whereby only the very rich would be able to get onto an airplane the U.K. was looking to have emissions from aircraft back to 2005 levels by the year 2050.
The new agreed figures are expected to be announced ahead of the Copenhagen United Nations summit on climate change.
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