Virgin’s Branson Helps Lead Climate Charge After UN Envoys Fail

Richard Branson

Billionaire Richard Branson wanted government legislation to reduce the carbon dioxide emitted into the air by his Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. aircraft

Dec. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Billionaire Richard Branson wanted government legislation to reduce the carbon dioxide emitted into the air by his Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. aircraft. He didn’t get it so he suggests the industry go it alone.

United Nations envoys from the U.S., China and another 191 countries failed to reach a binding accord to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in two-weeks of talks that ended Dec. 19 in Copenhagen. Even the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday didn’t end the impasse.

Branson and executives from General Electric Co., Duke Energy Corp. and Siemens AG say they want clarity next year from governments on emission regulations. Meantime, they plan to invest more to reduce output of carbon gases blamed for global warming.

“The airline industry is one of the polluters,” Branson said in an interview in Copenhagen on Dec. 18. “We owe it to the public to get our house in order. If the governments won’t set targets then I would suggest that the airlines get together and do it themselves and set an example.”

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Source: Bloomberg