The New Nation - Internet Edition

British Airways (BA) took fresh steps today to intensify its work in limiting aviation's impact on climate change.

The airline unveiled a new carbon offset scheme, and backing for deforestation prevention in Brazil and research into the effects of aircraft's non-carbon emissions.

The upgraded offset scheme uses UN certified emissions reductions to help finance clean energy projects in developing countries.

Customers offsetting their flight emissions will be supporting a Biomass power plant in Mahasamund in India along with a new windfarm in one of the poorest regions of China, as well as run-of-the-river hydro electric plants in China and Brazil.

The scheme is more user-friendly with customers able to buy their offset in one transaction when they book their flight on ba.com.

The UK Government's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, Hilary Benn, welcomed the scheme: 'After avoiding and reducing our emissions, offsetting has a role to play in helping us all to tackle climate change. That's why the government has been working to set up a code of best practice for companies who sell carbon offsetting/ he said.

'I hope this welcome scheme will encourage BA customers to offset their flights and so help to tackle emissions from aviation.'

In addition to the offset scheme, British Airways is to invest in a range of projects to help protect the Brazilian rainforest and improve understanding of ways of combating one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases.

British Airways will also back work led by Cambridge University aimed at establishing robust scientific understanding of the non-C02 effects of aviation by 2012.

Silla Maizey, head of corporate responsibility, said the new initiatives underlined the seriousness of the airline's commitment to tackling climate change.

She went on: 'We were the first airline to offer carbon offsets, and we intend to remain at the forefront in this area.