Aer Lingus 2008 Annual Report Download - page 14

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AER LINGUS GROUP PLC - ANNUAL REPORT 2008
12
SAN FRANCISCO
BOSTON
ORLANDO
NEW YORK
CHICAGO
WASHINGTON
Environment
Aer Lingus acknowledges that its operations have an
impact on the environment. Balancing the protection of
the environment with people’s need to travel is essential
for both ethical and business reasons. Controlling fuel
consumption is also a business priority. In 2008, fuel costs
represented 29.2% of the Group’s total operating costs.
However, it is important to note that aviation is a relatively
small contributor to climate change. The United Nations
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
states that, globally, aviation contributes to only 2% of
the world’s CO2 emissions. European aviation accounts
for 0.5% of this total. While aviation has an environmental
effect, the airline industry as a whole is taking a great
many practical measures to limit emissions. The challenge
for the Group is to balance the needs of the business with
the need to improve environmental performance.
Airlines are heavily regulated and subject to audit in
certain jurisdictions in relation to environmental matters.
Aer Lingus has been, and intends to continue to be, fully
compliant with all applicable regulations. Aer Lingus also
takes every opportunity to drive cost efficiencies across the
network and to prevent pollution. To this end, Aer Lingus
is a member of the Airport Environmental Committee at our
main airport in Dublin, and also the Association of European
Airlines (AEA) Environment Group. In conjunction with its
members, including Aer Lingus, the AEA has developed an
emissions containment policy. This is based on four pillars,
each designed to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption:
technological progress, operational measures, infrastructure
improvement and market-based solutions.
The Group continues to research and implement new
strategies and programmes to reduce its environmental
impact – including aircraft and engine condition monitoring
and maintenance, waste management, and, most importantly,
continued investment in new technologies and new aircraft.
Aer Lingus’ fuel efficiency has improved significantly in the
last 20 years, with the average fuel consumption per revenue
passenger kilometre reducing by 49% since 1991. This in turn
reduces the emissions per revenue passenger kilometre.
Emissions trading is one of the economic instruments that
can be used to address climate change. Today emissions
trading is not applicable to the aviation sector, except in the
United Kingdom through a voluntary scheme. On 8 July 2008
Corporate Social Responsibility
Statement
AER LINGUS GROUP PLC - ANNUAL REPORT 2008
LONDON
BRUSSELS
BERLIN
PARIS
MADRID
FARO
ONLINE AER LINGUS TRIP REVIEW: 21 May 2008
“Good value flights, good service, what more could I ask for.”