Support our call to stop airlines misleading the public
Airlines just aren’t being honest with us - and we think it’s time they started telling the truth.
Airlines like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, are misleading the public about their environmental commitments (also called “greenwashing”), downplaying the harm they’re causing to our climate, and pretending we can meet emissions targets without cutting back on flights.
By giving people the false impression that their flights are clean and green, airlines are a threat to meaningful action on the climate crisis. The vast majority of people in the UK are concerned about the climate crisis and want to take action to reduce emissions. By presenting themselves as ‘green’, airlines make it harder for the public to make informed travel decisions, thus standing in the way of the UK reducing flights by a third (something we know will be necessary if we’re to hit the UK’s climate targets).
What we’re doing
Our lawyers have filed formal complaints against two major UK airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, over claims they’re making about reducing emissions from flights, which we think just don’t stack up. We have used a formal complaint process via the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) which can be used against international businesses which make misleading claims about their climate impacts.
On top of this, we’re asking airlines to end their reward schemes for frequent flyers. We found that these programs increase emissions by incentivising the most carbon-intensive seating options and by encouraging additional flights. And since publishing a report illustrating this, thousands of us have emailed the CEOs of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic asking them to end these schemes.
Alarmed by airlines’ sky-high climate impact? Here’s how you can help:
Use our online tool to ask the airlines to stop misleading the public
It’s crucial that airlines are held accountable for their misleading claims, so we’ve made a handy tool to write to them and tell them this. Type in your name and postcode, and you’ll see a template email for multiple people at both these airlines, briefing them on our OECD complaints and saying that you would like them to stop misleading the public and put an end to frequent flyer programmes. You can personalise the email, or simply hit “SEND”.
2. Cut back on flying yourself
If you’re someone who loves to travel, one of the best things you can do for the planet is to cut back on frequent flying. Europe is blessed with some of the best rail networks in the world, and there are loads of companies and websites dedicated to help you book flight-free adventures. Click the button below for advice and resources for booking and planning climate-friendly holidays.
3. Get your employer signed up to Climate Perks
To make the choice to travel flight-free that bit easier, we’re asking companies to give their staff additional paid days off work if they get to their holiday destinations by train, coach or ferry. Since launching, Climate Perks has seen more than 65 organisations promise to give their employees at least two travel days. These organisations include the likes of the environmental NGO Friends of the Earth, the ferry service Direct Ferries, and the law firm Bates Wells.
Regular gifts give us the financial stability and security to build meaningful long term campaigns and reach the areas where climate action is needed most.