Environment - climate change

We realise that climate change is perhaps the biggest long term challenge the world faces. One of the major causes of climate change is the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2).

Like other greenhouse gases, it is naturally present and maintains the earth’s temperature by acting like a blanket around our globe. However, we are releasing too much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere making the blanket thicker and causing the temperature rise resulting in climate change.

There are many reasons for this; deforestation, burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas to run our cars and factories and produce electricity.

Aviation is also a source of greenhouse gases. Each time we take a flight we burn fuel, emitting CO2 into the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.

Worldwide aviation accounts for some 2 per cent of global CO2 emissions and is estimated to grow to 5-6% by 2050.

In comparison this is a small fraction, road transport generates 6 times as much and power generation and deforestation around 10 times as much. Nonetheless we must play our part in emissions reductions.

At British Airways we are determined that the aviation industry plays its part in reducing climate change emissions.