T&E and CAN write to AirlinesforEurope (A4E) to ask where they stand on Ryanair’s climate denial

Following remarks by Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary rejecting the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change, T&E and Climate Action Network Europe have written to the European airlines’ lobbying group, AirlinesforEurope (A4E), and A4E’s other member airlines – asking them to state publicly whether they side with O’Leary’s climate denial or whether they accept the proven link between human activity and a warming planet. With aviation emissions continuing to soar – up 8% in Europe alone in 2016 – and governments struggling to introduce effective measures to rein them in, there is a strong public and consumer interest in knowing whether European airlines accept the need to take action on climate change or are intent on identifying with the diminishing band of climate deniers. National and European decision makers should also know where airlines stand on the issue of climate change when they are being intensively lobbied by airlines on the issue. The letter ends:  “We therefore call on your airlines, and A4E, to state publicly whether you accept the over-whelming evidence of climate change, and the resulting need to take ambitious action, or whether you are partners in Mr O’Leary’s reckless climate denialism.”
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Where do other airlines stand on Ryanair’s climate denial?

April 26, 2017 (Transport & Environment)

Following remarks by Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary rejecting the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change, T&E and Climate Action Network Europe call on Ryanair’s European lobbying group, AirlinesforEurope (A4E), and A4E’s other member airlines to state publicly whether they side with O’Leary’s climate denial or whether they accept the proven link between human activity and a warming planet.

With aviation emissions continuing to soar – up 8% in Europe alone in 2016 – and governments struggling to introduce effective measures to rein them in, there is a strong public and consumer interest in knowing whether European airlines accept the need to take action on climate change or are intent on identifying with the diminishing band of climate deniers. National and European decision makers should also know where airlines stand on the issue of climate change when they are being intensively lobbied by airlines on the issue.

https://www.transportenvironment.org/publications/where-do-other-airlines-stand-ryanairs-climate-denial

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The letter:

Dear Airlines4Europe and its member airlines,

Earlier this month, Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary commented on Irish radio that he does not “accept the connection between carbon consumption and climate change1.”  (1 Irish Times, 08/04/2017 “Michael O’Leary says he ‘does not accept climate change is real’)

In doing so, he puts himself in conflict with the 97% of peer-reviewed climate scientists who believe that human activity has a direct link with rising global temperatures.

He also puts himself in conflict with the scores of governments which have ratified the Paris
Agreement and which have pledged to take ambitious climate action. Incredibly, he has even put himself in conflict with CEOs of oil majors such as ExxonMobil and Shell who, while not exactly championing action on climate change, at least accept the principles of climate science.

In the coming months, the EU will decide on the future terms for aviation’s inclusion in its Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Work will also continue on developing the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s global market-based measure (known as CORSIA). Much of the lobbying on these issues will be conducted by your association, AirlinesforEurope (A4E).

Not only is Ryanair a member of your association, but it is the largest member.

In the interests of transparency, we believe European Union institutions, member states and
stakeholders should know whether the climate denialism of Mr O’Leary is also shared by your
airlines and A4E. When you engage in lobbying, we believe everyone should know whether they are working with an honest partner, or someone who flatly rejects the overwhelming consensus of climate science. We also believe your customers would appreciate knowing where you stand on this critical issue.

We therefore call on your airlines, and A4E, to state publicly whether you accept the overwhelming evidence of climate change, and the resulting need to take ambitious action, or whether you are partners in Mr O’Leary’s reckless climate denialism.

We look forward to your response.
On behalf of Climate Action Network Europe and Transport & Environment,
Yours sincerely,
William Todts
Executive Director, Transport & Environment
william.todts@transportenvironment.org

 

https://www.transportenvironment.org/sites/te/files/publications/Letter_Where_do_other_airlines_stand_on_Ryanair%27s_climate_denial.pdf

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See earlier

Ryanair denies climate change because it doesn’t like CO2 solutions that would cramp its growth

Recently Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary dismissed evidence of climate change as “rubbish”. Andrew Murphy, aviation manager at Transport & Environment, says this is hardly surprising. CO2 emissions from all sectors in the EU’s emissions trading system decreased in 2016 with one exception: aviation: CO2 from flights within Europe grew 8%, according to figures released last week by the European Commission. Low-fares airlines drove this growth, with Ryanair, Wizz Air, Eurowings and Norwegian all registering double-digit increases in emissions. Ryanair is the biggest aviation emitter in Europe. These airlines are now huge emitters with carbon footprints exceeding those of some small countries. Ryanair’s growth is thanks, in part, to a business model reliant on taxpayer handouts. It will face the biggest challenge if governments take serious action against aviation’s growing emissions. World CO2 emissions need to almost cease by 2050, so an increase of 8% in European aviation emissions in one year alone is of serious concern. It is allowed because all levels of government – regional, national and European – policies do nothing to curb its emissions. The sector receives €40 billion annual subsidy from its fuel tax and VAT exemptions. Luckily, the aviation EU ETS provisions are currently under revision, and MEPs and member states have an opportunity to fix some of the major flaws.

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