The British Business and General Aviation Association signs up first operator to its Carbon Balancing Scheme
Mon 19 Nov 2007 – The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA), the UK trade body, has signed the first operator to its Carbon Balancing Scheme announced earlier this year, an initiative with the aim of making this sector of the industry carbon neutral. The UK’s largest executive aircraft charter operator, London Executive Aviation (LEA), will now offer its clients the opportunity to balance the carbon emissions produced by their flights through the scheme.
Using independently certified offsetting projects, the scheme offers operators the chance to counter carbon emissions through the purchase of forestry-based, fuel-based or technology-based offsets. BBGA members can choose to balance emissions on all flights or on a flight-by-flight basis. The cost is based on fuel burn
“As a sector, the business and general aviation industry is committed to minimising its impact on the environment and we are delighted that LEA has come on board,” said David Antrobus, Chairman of the BBGA. “We are looking to the future of the industry and are putting the scheme forward as an alternative means of compliance to the proposed inclusion of general and business aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.”
Patrick Margetson-Rushmore, CEO of LEA, commented: “We were very impressed with the scheme. The flexibility that it offers will suit the needs of our clients perfectly and we are delighted to be supporting the BBGA in its efforts to combat climate change.”
The emissions offset portfolio is managed by UK-based Eco Positive and includes projects covering reforestation (Mexico), fuel switching (Brazil and Uganda), renewable hydroelectric energy (India) and landfill methane capture.
The UK CAA reports the business and general aviation sector has an economic worth of around 8% of the airlines, yet accounts for only 1% of aviation emissions, says the BBGA.