Last week, British Airways unveiled a plan to halve its net CO2 emissions by 2050. The plan is the most ambitious yet from an airline, and means that the company will reduce its carbon output from 16 million tons to 8 million tons.
Willie Walsh, the airline's chief executive, commented, "Halving net CO2 by 2050 is an extremely challenging target. But it is one I am sure we can achieve. We will make progress through investment in cleaner aircraft, use of alternative fuels, more efficient flight routings and the spread of emissions trading from Europe to the whole world.
The airline has already increased fuel efficiency by nearly 30 percent in the past decade.
British Airways is currently working with Rolls-Royce to test airplane fuel alternatives to kerosene. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration and the X Prize Foundation have teamed up to spur investment in greener alternatives to jet fuel.