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SA Airline Mango Joins Live the Deal
Wednesday, 28 Feb, 2010
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Mango CEO Nico Bezuidenhout
SA Carrier joins global COP15 initiative as founding member of Live The Deal Campaign.
Mango CEO Nico Bezuidenhout, speaking at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Summit on Tourism, Sport and Mega Events announced today that low cost carrier Mango has signed an agreement as a founding member of global organisation Live The Deal.
The organisation’s goal, to help implement commitments noted in December 2009’s Copenhagen Climate Accord and promote the concept of a Green Economy through quadruple bottom line corporate governance – economic, social, environmental and climate. (www.livethedeal.com)
South Africa is a signatory to the Copenhagen Accord. Live The Deal was launched in Copenhagen with the support of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
“The key to combating climate change is to positively influence behaviours,” says Bezuidenhout. “A greener, sustainable social and commercial future depends on more than simply planting trees as token carbon offsetting. The challenge is much more fundamental. Mango joins the Live The Deal initiative as a founding member to contribute in influencing change, in particular the travel industry, and broadly among our Guests.”
Aviation is responsible for approximately 2% of the total global carbon emission count, he says. Yet, the vital role that aviation plays in economic development presents a dichotomy of principle. “It is therefore key that aviation plays a substantial role addressing environmental imbalances. This is why Mango deems it critical for all role players in the industry to consider their contribution to change.” Presently Mango’s per passenger carbon footprint is the lowest in the South African skies.
Mango will, from 1 April, implement a R2,50 per sector “green fee” on all its flights. Bezuidenhout says that while this does not accurately monetize a per person carbon footprint of a typical domestic flight, “that it’s a start, and the beginning of a medium to long term rollout that will see Mango flights become carbon neutral within the next 7 years.”
Live the Deal director Geoffrey Lipman lauds Mango’s participation. “It is inspiring to welcome a South African airline as a founding member of this initiative. It is through proactive interventions and participation that we will make a difference to our collective future.”
Initially, funds raised through the “green fee” will be channelled to sustainable development projects that reduce our collective carbon footprint throughout the country as well as the propagation of public awareness. Initiatives will be regularly reported.
“The aircraft type that we operate, new generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft are already some of the most sky-friendly today, with fuel consumption and emissions up to 30% greener than that of ageing fleets of some competitors. We understand that, in a carbon constrained world, we need to invest now to ensure that we do not end up with stranded assets if and when the regulatory and legislative frameworks within which we operate change to reflect the renewed international urgency to tackle climate change. And equally important, to meet our responsibilities towards future generations” says Bezuidenhout.
On the ground, Mango will also implement across the board recycling programmes and work with all its suppliers and partners to join the airline in greening operations. “By 2017, when one purchases a flight on Mango, the trip should be fully carbon neutral.”
Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the 2010 Sustainable Tourism Report Suite details at:www.travelmole.com/stories/1141006.php
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