Finnair moots global body to govern emission trade

As world leaders discuss measures in Copenhagen to save the planet from global warming, Nordic airline Finnair has mooted setting up of a global body under the United Nations to regulate emission trading.

The airline proposes to involve other carriers for emission control initiatives and plans to plough money from such trading to help airlines in developing countries control, what it describes as, aviation sector's  biggest output threat to the atmosphere.

"There is absence of any definite system to calculate emission trading. We feel that there should be a global body, preferably under the United Nations to check and regulate on this very important issue," Finnair's VP Sustainable Development Kati Ihamaki said.

Estimates suggest that carbon dioxide emissions by airlines could touch 1.5 billion tonnes a year by 2025. Every economy class passenger flying from Mumbai to New York contributes over 2,000 pounds in CO2 emissions and a business class passenger on the same flight over 3,000 pounds.

She said the money thus gained by the airline can be routed back to other developing countries and they can utilise this to curtail emissions.

Finnair's international route network is focussed on Asia, and the airline operates daily services between Helsinki and New Delhi.