Clean fuels: Branson hits back at critics

Clean fuels: Branson hits back at critics
By Robert Ditcham, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS


Dubai: Sir Richard Branson, the British entrepreneur who built the Virgin Group, has hit back at critics who say the owner of several 'dirty businesses' is in no position to preach against global warming.

The billionaire businessman, whose empire includes interests in trains, aviation and space travel, said the Virgin Group is best-placed to develop the clean fuels that will allow zero-carbon global travel.

He refuted suggestions that it is hypocritical of an airline owner to campaign against global warming.

The aviation industry is currently responsible for around two per cent of global CO2 emissions, a figure Sir Richard has in the past claimed could be reduced to 1.5 per cent.

"I would love to believe that climate change is not an issue because I run a number of dirty businesses," he told delegates at the Leaders in Dubai Business Forum.

"We either sell our planes to (company's such as) British Airways or Emirates and they carry on operating planes with profits going to shareholders. Or we carry on operating them ourselves and take 100 per cent of those profits and put them to try to develop a fuel that will not damage the environment.
"The $3 billion that we earn from the airline will all go towards finding a fuel that we can use to fly our planes and can be used for trains, busses, cars and lorries."

Sir Richard said a Boeing 747 operated by Virgin will next year fly on a new fuel being developed by GE, Boeing and Virgin Fuels. The plane will initially fly on 20 per cent of the new fuel.

"We hope to get it eventually get to 100 per cent… so that people will be able to fly without feeling guilty and without damaging the environment," he said.

Sir Richard highlighted the "blanket" of carbon emission building up in the world's atmosphere and the potential catastrophic effects of changing climate patterns on low-lying areas.

He referred to the Dubai's Palm Islands and The World as among the areas at risk of flooding.

And in a clear warning to the oil-rich GCC states, he said the pressure of global warning will eventually result in people reducing their use of conventional fuels, creating an urgent need for the region to diversify away from oil dependence.

One of the Virgin Group businesses, Virgin Galactic, aims to eventually fly from Dubai to major cities in as little as 30 minutes, Sir Richard added.

"In about two years time we will be able to take people into space to experience it and using that technology we hope to one day in the next 10-20 years be able to fly people from Dubai to Sydney or Los Angeles in half an hour," he said.

"Most of our time traveling will be spent at the airports."