Global Warming and CO2 Emissions Blog

VIRGIN ATLANTIC CHAIRMAN SIR RICHARD BRANSON UNVEILS PLANS TO CUT CARBON EMISSIONS FROM AVIATION BY UP TO 25%

SOURCE: Virgin Atlantic - 27 Sep 2006

The Chairman of Virgin Atlantic, Sir Richard Branson, today called on the global aviation industry to develop a shared solution to the growing issue of climate change. The move follows Virgin Group's plans to invest $3billion in renewable energy initiatives over the next ten years.

Speaking in New York, Sir Richard revealed that he has written to other airlines, including British Airways, American Airlines and Easyjet; engine and aircraft manufacturers such as Rolls Royce and Boeing; and airport operators including BAA in the UK, urging them to support a new cross-industry forum which will help to deliver practical ways of tackling climate change.

In his letter to aviation industry leaders, Sir Richard writes, "We need to accelerate the pace at which we reduce aviation's impact on the environment. We cannot ignore that aviation does create environmental problems (around 2% of global CO2 emissions), although equally it produces significant economic and social benefits. (8% of the world's GDP)"

As a first step towards sustainable aviation, Virgin Atlantic today set out its global vision for radically more efficient aircraft movements around the world's busiest airports. These changes would mean that aircraft would burn considerably less fuel and emit much lower levels of CO2, dramatically improving air quality on the ground and in the air.

At the heart of its vision is the creation of "starting grids" for all aircraft departures. A starting grid is a holding area, close to the runway, consisting of several parking bays for aircraft. It means that aircraft can be towed closer to a runway before take-off, substantially reducing the time that engines need to be running.

After being towed by a small tug from its stand, an aircraft would only start its engines once on the "starting grid", around 10 minutes before actual take-off. This would substantially reduce the amount of time aircraft need to taxi with their engines running and the time spent queuing before take off. A "starting grid" also reduces congestion around stands, meaning aircraft that have recently landed wouldn't have to wait, with their engines running, to get onto the stand. Aircraft arriving could also turn off their engines after five minutes and be towed to their stand, saving considerable extra CO2.

The "starting grid" system would make airport movements much more efficient and would reduce fuel consumption and on-the-ground carbon emissions by over 50% ahead of take-off at London's Heathrow airport for Virgin Atlantic aircraft, and by nearly 90% for Virgin Atlantic flights at JFK Airport in New York. It would also mean that an aircraft flying from JFK to Heathrow could carry around two tonnes less weight in the air, which would mean that the amount of fuel burnt would be considerably less, reducing CO2 emissions even further.

Towing aircraft closer to the runway has substantial implications for local communities too. They would benefit from much lower noise levels because of aircraft taxi-ing without their engines running, and from dramatically cleaner air on the ground.

Virgin Atlantic pilots are also trained in a method of descent called "Continuous Descent Approach." This involves aircraft beginning their descent from high altitude much earlier, leading to a slower and smoother approach before landing. This earlier descent means that aircraft descend at a more efficient speed, therefore reducing fuel burn. Virgin Atlantic believes that all air traffic control authorities should adopt this approach, saving considerable CO2 emissions.

As part of its sustainable aviation strategy, Virgin Atlantic is also reducing the weight of each of its aircraft. It is painting the exterior of its planes with lighter paint, creating lighter fittings onboard, changing oxygen bottles from metal to carbon-fibre, and it is now using cargo bins made from lighter, but stronger carbon-fibre materials, rather than metal. The airline is even seeking to remove empty champagne and beer bottles, the contents of which have been drunk before leaving the stand, so they can be recycled before the plane leaves for its destination. These measures save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions further.

Sir Richard also said the "mess of European air traffic control is punishing the environment, with 35 different air traffic control organizations, compared with just one in America." He called for plans for a single European sky, which would optimise air routings by aircraft and improve environmental performance further. IATA, the International Air Transport Association, predicts that 12% of global CO2 emissions by aircraft would be saved if air traffic control systems were more efficient.

Sir Richard added: "What we're suggesting would save over 150 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year. With global warming, the world is heading for a catastrophe. The aviation industry must play its part in averting that. Airlines, airports, air traffic controllers and governments should seize these initiatives and ensure they're all implemented within two years. If they do so, up to 25% of the world's aviation emissions can be cut. The savings in fuel costs can then be ploughed back into further initiatives to reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions, and into savings for passengers."

The initiatives, which have been developed over the last year, follow a recent climate seminar in California chaired by the state Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in which senior business leaders, including Sir Richard Branson, promised to help cut global emissions.

Commenting on the Virgin Atlantic initiatives, Governor Schwarzenegger, said: "I applaud the creative example Virgin Atlantic has set in moving towards towing planes from push-back to the end of the runway. This is a perfect example of the kind of practical solution we need to be pursuing globally."

Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic, added: "Although Virgin Atlantic supports an emissions trading scheme, climate change will only be tackled markedly by a reduction in carbon emissions themselves. As an airline, we have a duty to continue to reduce our environmental footprint and that is what we are encouraging our pilots, our engineering staff and all of our people to do. We will be announcing further measures in the next few months to demonstrate how Virgin Atlantic is taking the industry lead on the issue of sustainability."

Labels: carbon dioxide emissions, environmental activism, global warming

SACRAMENTO, CA (09/25/06) -- Attorney General Bill Lockyer has filed a lawsuit against leading U.S. and Japanese auto manufacturers, alleging their vehicles' emissions have contributed significantly to global warming, harmed the resources, infrastructure and environmental health of California, and cost the state millions of dollars to address current and future effects.

"Global warming is causing significant harm to California's environment, economy, agriculture and public health. The impacts are already costing millions of dollars and the price tag is increasing," said Lockyer. "Vehicle emissions are the single most rapidly growing source of the carbon emissions contributing to global warming, yet the federal government and automakers have refused to act. It is time to hold these companies responsible for their contribution to this crisis."

Filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the complaint names as defendants: Chrysler Motors Corporation, General Motors Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Honda North America, and Nissan North America. The lawsuit is the first of its kind to seek to hold manufacturers liable for the damages caused by greenhouse gases that their products emit.

The complaint alleges that under federal and state common law the automakers have created a public nuisance by producing "millions of vehicles that collectively emit massive quantities of carbon dioxide," a greenhouse gas that traps atmospheric heat and causes global warming. Under the law, a "public nuisance" is an unreasonable interference with a public right, or an action that interferes with or causes harm to life, health or property. The complaint asks the court to hold the defendants liable for damages, including future harm, caused by their ongoing, substantial contribution to the public nuisance of global warming.

As stated in the complaint, the automakers produce vehicles that emit a combined 289 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in the United States each year. Those emissions, the complaint alleges, currently account for nearly 20 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions in the United States and more than 30 percent in California. The defendants rank "among the world's largest contributors to global warming and the adverse impacts on California," according to the complaint.

"Global warming has already injured California, it environment, its economy, and the health and well-being of its citizens," the complaint alleges. "California is responding to the ongoing impacts and the inevitable additional future impacts of global warming. The State is spending millions of dollars on planning, monitoring, and infrastructure changes to address a large spectrum of current and anticipated impacts, including reduced snow pack, coastal and beach erosion, increased ozone pollution, sea water intrusion into Delta drinking supplies, response to impacts on wildlife, including endangered species and fish, wildfire risks, and the long-term need to monitor on-going and inevitable impacts. California has already begun to address the decline in the snow pack and earlier melting of the snow pack in order to avert water shortages and flooding in the future." Dealing with global warming's harmful effects, the complaint adds, "will almost certainly cost millions more."

The filing comes as Lockyer fights the auto industry's attempt to invalidate California's landmark global warming regulations curbing tailpipe emissions. In their federal-court lawsuit, the automakers claim the regulations, adopted in 2005 through legislation sponsored by Assembly Member Fran Pavley, are pre-empted by federal law. Lockyer is defending the rules against the industry's legal challenge.

Lockyer noted the Bush Administration's inaction on global warming has forced California and other states to take action on their own. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing a lawsuit filed by Lockyer, 11 other Attorneys General, two cities and major environmental groups challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) refusal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Numerous parties have submitted amicus briefs supporting the states, including climate scientists, three former EPA Administrators, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and environmental and religious groups.

In addition, Lockyer, along with nine other state Attorneys General, the District of Columbia and the City of New York, filed a lawsuit earlier this year challenging the Bush Administration's new fuel economy standards for SUVs and light trucks. That complaint alleges the rules fail to address the effects on the environment and global warming.

California is particularly vulnerable to global warming impacts. According to a report recently submitted by the Climate Action Team to Governor Schwarzenegger and the California Legislature, the consequences of climate change in California will be "severe."

"We are seeing the harmful impacts of global warming today, and if we continue with 'business as usual,' we can expect to see more and larger impacts in the future," said Lockyer. "As a coastal state, an agricultural state, and a state that relies on its Sierra snow pack, California has an enormous stake in acting now to combat global warming."

The complaint is available for download here.

Reprinted from http://www.caprep.com/0906026.htm.

Labels: California, carbon dioxide emissions, environmental activism, global warming

This fall Al Gore will begin training more than 1,000 individuals to make a version of his now-renowned presentation to groups in their local communities. The Climate Project will administer these training sessions. The training will focus on the science behind the presentation Al Gore has been making for more than two decades as seen in the film An Inconvenient Truth. This program will help trainees to become presenters.

Training sessions will begin in late September in Nashville, Tennessee, and continue through January. Each training session will take place over a two-day period and will be free of charge to those applicants who are selected. Trainees will receive a “Tool Kit” containing a handbook, handouts for their audiences, presentations, and all other materials necessary to make a presentation of their own. Trainees will be expected to pay for their own flights or transportation, accommodation and any additional meals. We will provide a list of accommodation options and other local information. Receptions, other meals, and local transportation will be provided
during the sessions.

Each trainee will be asked to commit to making a minimum of ten (10) presentations over a one-year period following the completion of their training and to meet other reasonable requirements which will be outlined prior to the training program. If you wish to apply online, please go to The Climate Project or contact:

Jenny Clad
Project Director
The Climate Project
c/o The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
P.O. Box 440225
Nashville, TN 37244
info@theclimateproject.org

Labels: carbon dioxide emissions, environmental activism, global warming

Arizona Sen. John McCain will visit Greenland, Turkey, Georgia, Montenegro and Italy as part of a Senate delegation headed overseas during Congress' summer break.

McCain and the other Republican senators want to observe the effects of global warming while in Greenland. They also will attend an A-list economic and political conference at a swanky northern Italian resort.

McCain and U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., favor legislation to cap industrial emissions in an effort to curtail global warming. In 2003, the two introduced the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act, which was defeated in a 38-60 vote last year.

Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Mel Martinez, R-Fla., Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., Richard Burr, R-N.C., and John Sununu, R-N.H., are slated to go on the congressional trip with McCain. The Greenland to Italy trip will start later this month and run through early September, McCain's office said Wednesday.

McCain has been crisscrossing the U.S. in recent months campaigning for fellow Republicans in key races and will continue those efforts through the November elections. The Arizonan is expected to run for president again in 2008 and is courting voters and key GOP supporters in battleground states such as Iowa, Florida, Ohio, South Carolina, New Hampshire and California.

Labels: carbon dioxide emissions, environmental activism, global warming