KLM and the Dutch arm of the World Wildlife Fund announced that they have signed an agreement on the ‘reduction and compensation’ of the airline’s carbon dioxide emissions it was reported on July 16.
KLM said the agreement, the first of its kind in the aviation industry, reaffirmed its intention to achieve CO2-neutral growth in comparison with 2007. Based on current production plans, this means the airline will offset a total of 4m tonnes of CO2 within a four-year period, through emission reduction and compensation.
By accelerating the pace of its fleet modernisation and reducing fuel consumption, KLM will cut emissions per passenger from 2007 levels by 3% by 2012 and 17% by 2020.
‘KLM is already the most energy-efficient major airline in the world,’ it said. ‘In reaching agreement on further reductions, KLM is opting to up the pace in relation to 2012, the year in which airlines will be expected to commence statutory emission rights trading.’
KLM president and chief executive, Peter Hartman, added: ‘Two parties wishing to more strongly express having adopted a responsible attitude towards climate conservation have joined forces. Independent studies have shown that KLM is performing as the ‘best in class’ in terms of adopting measures to reduce CO2 emissions in comparison with other airlines.
‘Our ambitions certainly are optimistic, and KLM has its sights set on staying ahead of the pack. We are convinced that our customers will react with enthusiasm.’
Johan van de Gronden, managing director of Wereld Natuur Fonds, said: ‘Climate change is one of the biggest threats to people and animals in our time. On the basis of concrete agreements with large-scale companies, WNF tries to find ways to limit the effects of climate change as far as possible. This agreement with KLM will therefore benefit nature directly.’
The two also said clear agreements had been reached in relation to CO2 compensation, without giving further details. WNF, which has some 920k individual and company contributors, has for many years invested in sustainable energy projects ie those that do not emit CO2, largely in developing countries.
Courtesy of e-tid.com
