Many of us feel guilt when we fly because it is a very obvious source of carbon emissions. Aviation causes around 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But we do not perhaps feel the same guilt when we walk into a new building, even though global concrete manufacture emits closer to 8%. Or when we jump in a petrol car or turn on our gas central heating.
This is because aviation is a very visible symbol of our high-carbon consumption and, until now, the aviation industry has been slow to engage with the climate change agenda. According to the UN, we are looking at global warming of up to just over 3˚C which would be disastrous for the planet and our societies.
