This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6233019.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Airlines savaged over environment Ryanair attacks 'silly' minister
(about 2 hours later)
A minister has launched an outspoken attack on the airline industry over its failure to tackle carbon emissions. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has hit back at criticism from the climate change minister, saying his airline was "the greenest in Europe".
Speaking to the Guardian newspaper, Environment Minister Ian Pearson said budget airline Ryanair was the "irresponsible face of capitalism". In a broad attack on airlines' efforts to tackle carbon emissions, Ian Pearson said Ryanair was the "irresponsible face of capitalism".
He singled out US airlines' attitude to cutting emissions as "a disgrace". But Mr O'Leary said Mr Pearson was "silly" and "hadn't a clue what he is talking about".
The EU is to include airlines in its carbon trading scheme, which will see them pay for exceeding their current level of emissions. Mr Pearson also said the attitude of US airlines to emissions was "a disgrace".
In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Pearson said: "When it comes to climate change, Ryanair are not just the unacceptable face of capitalism, they are the irresponsible face of capitalism."
He also attacked British Airways, saying it was "only just playing ball" on environmental regulations, and Lufthansa, the German airline.
Ian Pearson's comments are absolutely incredible Caroline Lucas, Green MEP Q&A carbon trading scheme EU tackles airline CO2
Mr O'Leary defended his company and the industry as a whole.
''We are the greenest airline in Europe but you know being savaged by a dead sheep - as we were by this minister this morning - is like water off a duck's back.''
"What he should be attacking is the power generation stations and the road transport who between them account for over 50% of emissions."
'Wrong target'
He said the "silly" minister and "eco-lunatics" were targeting the aviation industry when it accounted for 2% of the problem.
Even though his company was growing, the new planes it had invested £10bn in the last five years had cut its emissions and fuel consumption by 50%, Mr O'Leary said.
He added: "He hasn't a clue what he's talking about and is attacking the wrong target in the airlines.
"They just seem to be saying they don't want anything to do with the trading scheme, and that they will take the EU to court if transatlantic flights are included. It is completely irresponsible."
'Collective responsibility'
But Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas said Mr Pearson should resign or scrap the government's aviation expansion plans.
HAVE YOUR SAY Airlines have been and always will be a soft target Jack Kilms, Turin, Italy Send us your comments
¿Ian Pearson's comments are absolutely incredible,¿ she said. ¿If anyone other than a government minister had made them they would have been a useful contribution to our efforts to tackle climate change.
"But for someone with collective responsibility for the government's support of the biggest expansion of the aviation industry in a generation to do so is nothing less than a deceptive admission of failure.¿
Friends of the Earth said Mr Pearson's comments underlined the need to scrap airport expansion plans and tax breaks for the air industry.
Ryanair has opposed efforts by the EU to control aviation carbon emissions by including them in a trading scheme, saying it would discriminate against low-cost airlines.
The EU's scheme will see airlines pay for exceeding their current level of emissions.
Flights within Europe will come under the jurisdiction of the Emissions Trading Scheme by 2011.Flights within Europe will come under the jurisdiction of the Emissions Trading Scheme by 2011.
The scheme would be expanded from 2012 to include all international flights that arrive at or depart from an EU airport.The scheme would be expanded from 2012 to include all international flights that arrive at or depart from an EU airport.
Airlines would be issued with pollution permits - those that cut emissions would be able to sell their surplus while an airline that increased its emissions would have to buy more permits.Airlines would be issued with pollution permits - those that cut emissions would be able to sell their surplus while an airline that increased its emissions would have to buy more permits.
O'Leary just seems to take pride in refusing to recognise that climate change is a genuine problem Ian PearsonOn Ryanair's chief executive Q&A carbon trading scheme EU tackles airline CO2
Ryanair has opposed efforts to control carbon emissions in this way, saying a trading scheme would discriminate against low-cost airlines.
The US has already questioned whether it would be legal within global trading rules to force airlines flying into the EU to take part in the scheme.The US has already questioned whether it would be legal within global trading rules to force airlines flying into the EU to take part in the scheme.
And there are reports that US airlines are considering legal action to overturn the EU's efforts.And there are reports that US airlines are considering legal action to overturn the EU's efforts.
In the Guardian, Mr Pearson also attacked BA, saying it was "only just playing ball", and Lufthansa, the German airline. In a statement, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "Urgent progress is needed to ensure that aviation addresses its climate change impacts."
But much of the minister's ire was reserved for Ryanair, whose chief executive Michael O'Leary has said his company's carbon emissions will continue rising.
Mr Pearson told the newspaper: "When it comes to climate change, Ryanair are not just the unacceptable face of capitalism, they are the irresponsible face of capitalism."
Ryanair has insisted Mr Pearson is misinformed.
"Ryanair has spent over $10bn (£5.15bn) on a fleet of fuel-efficient engines which have reduced fuel burn by 45% and cut CO2 emissions by 50% per passenger, making Ryanair Europe's greenest airline," it said.
Urgent progress
Mr Pearson also roundly attacked the attitude towards emissions in the US.
"They just seem to be saying they don't want anything to do with the trading scheme, and that they will take the EU to court if transatlantic flights are included. It is completely irresponsible."
In a statement, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "Urgent progress is needed to ensure that aviation addresses its climate change impacts.
"The UK has led the debate with Europe to include aviation in the Emissions Trading Scheme and the recent announcement by the European Commission is a step forward in ensuring the environmental costs of aviation's climate change impacts are taken into account.
"We must work urgently with the aviation sector, the EC and other governments to put in place an ambitious scheme that is environmentally effective and one which is implemented as soon as possible, driving down emissions further and faster."
Balanced schemeBalanced scheme
Toby Nicol, spokesman for Budget airline Easyjet, said the company "stands full-square with the government" on the proposal to include EU internal flights and international flights in the carbon trading scheme.Toby Nicol, spokesman for Budget airline Easyjet, said the company "stands full-square with the government" on the proposal to include EU internal flights and international flights in the carbon trading scheme.
HAVE YOUR SAY Airlines have been and always will be a soft target Jack Kilms, Turin, Italy href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5181&edition=1&ttl=20070105115102" class="">Send us your comments Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne said Mr Pearson's focus should be directed at the chancellor to encourage him to make "the right framework to ensure that airlines are sustainable in the long run so the planet is there for our children and our grandchildren rather than whinging about the airlines."
He said Easyjet and Ryanair were among the four largest airlines flying within Europe, and both "have a pretty good story to tell on the environment".
"We buy the cleanest, quietest aircraft available; they are brand new off the production line; we fill them full; we fly them direct from A to B; we don't do wasteful hubbing operations," he said.
"It just so happens that Ryanair has the view that anything which looks or feels like a tax in any way is a tax and needs to be opposed.
"We take the different view that we believe the emissions trading scheme is the right way to balance aviation's great social and economic benefits with its contribution to climate change."