Recently airports and airlines have been looking for new ways to get greener. Since the airline industry was basically left out of the Kyoto treaty process it became the primary focus of the recent Copenhagen summit on climate change. Recent studies have shown that air travel accounts for around five percent of the world’s carbon emissions, which makes it one of the largest contributors to global warming. One of the problems the air travel industry faces is that there is a rift between the airlines and the airports themselves, as each point the finger at the other to be responsible for carbon emissions. This rift kept the Manchester Airport from being allowed to join a group of environmental campaigners who say that unless the airport reduces the emissions of airplanes then it is not doing its part to reduce carbon emissions.
The airport recently tried to sign up for 10:10, which is an environmental campaign aiming to get businesses and households to cut their carbon emissions by ten percent over the next year. Even though the airport has vowed to be carbon neutral in five years, 10:10 campaigners say that isn’t enough, as most of the carbon emissions involved in the air industry come when the planes are in the air. The Manchester Airport says that it is the responsibility of the airlines, not the airport to cut emissions, but 10:10 disagreed and denied them admission to the campaign.
The Manchester Airport slammed the denial and said that the group was made up of eco-snobs who were ignoring the real efforts being made.
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