EasyJet to compensate for CO2 emissions

The British airline company, EasyJet, is going to compensate for the CO2 emissions of its passengers. The company also plans to invest in the research of hybrid and electric airplanes together with airplane builder Airbus.

Yearly figures

Last year, EasyJet’s airplanes emitted about 8,6 million tons of CO2. Next year, the company plans to free 29 million euros to compensate for those emissions. EasyJet already reduced the emissions for each kilometer a passenger covered by one-third by using new airplanes and engines, and by reducing weight. Emissions should further go down (10%) by 2022.

EasyJet is also looking for other means of reducing emissions by using electric motors to taxi along the runway, for instance. The company announced those plans during the presentation of its yearly figures.

‘Flygskam’

Other airline companies are taking measures too. The CO2 emissions of the French airline company, Air France, will be compensated by reforestation. And Lufthansa’s ‘Compensaid’ program proposes two ways to compensate for CO2 emissions by a forestation program in Nicaragua or by SAF, a sustainably produced biofuel.

It’s no surprise either because there’s a worldwide debate about the pollution aviation creates. Meanwhile, the Swedish word ‘flygskam’ or ‘flying shame’ has become a global concept in the climate discussion. Environmentally conscious people are more and more looking for cleaner alternatives instead of flying.

Not carbon-neutral

EasyJet transported 96,1 million passengers, 8,6% more than the year before. Capacity increased by 10,3%, making the occupation rate smaller. The total return went up to 7,5 billion euros (6,4 billion pounds).

The environmental organization Greenpeace is not happy with the compensation alone.”It’s not a solution because it’s not making flying carbon-neutral,” the organization says. “Our airports have to become smaller to emit less CO2.”

Alternatives

Compensation is not indisputable, though. “Investing in ‘green’ technologies, however, is a good idea,” the campaign leader, Dewi Zloch, says. “But EasyJet could also cancel several short flights, like the ones between Amsterdam and London, and offer train trips instead.”

According to the Central Office for Statistics (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, CBS), the aviation sector emits almost half of all greenhouse gases in the transport sector. The entire sector represents 26 billion kg of CO2 equivalents or nearly as much as in 2012.

The entire transport sector is responsible for 12% of all emissions in the Dutch economy. Aviation’s emissions increased by 13% while the emissions by transport on the road and the water went down.

EasyJet compenseert CO2-uitstoot standaard

Luchtvaart goed voor helft uitstoot transport

EasyJet compenseert zijn 8,6 miljoen ton uitstoot