Viewing posts tagged "Airlines"

Flying to Get More Expensive With Carbon Taxes, Sports Hybirds and More: News Roundup

The International Air Transport Association said that carbon regulations will likely cost airlines $7 billion a year, according to Reuters. The 230 member association has dedicated itself to carbon free growth in 2020 and beyond, and that will mean buying a lot more carbon credits and biofuels. The agreement that will succeed the Kyoto Protocol will no doubt contemplate airline reductions. Reuters has more:

IATA board member Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, told Reuters on Tuesday that the association, in working out its carbon neutral pledge, had forecast a cost of $6.5 billion to $7.5 billion a year from 2020 because of carbon trading, based on a carbon price of $65 a metric ton in 2020.

Passengers will likely bear the increase.

But if you can't afford a surcharge, drive. Lamborghini is coming out with a hybrid, says USA Today. The company wants to decrease emissions by 35 percent by 2015. Why the major sports car companies have not come forward with all-electric versions of their own cars remains something of a mystery. Celebrities – ranging from George Clooney to "Weird" Al Yankovic – have lined up to buy cars from Tesla Motors. Building does buck their 100-plus year history of tinkering with gas engines, but there's more to a car than the motor. 

Mexico, meanwhile, said it would try to cut emissions by 8 percent by 2012.

And in a final note, Dow Corning said has set up the "world's largest" online portal for buying silicone products. In case you need a few tons of high grade adhesive.