Aviation has social and economic benefits, but it also has social and environmental costs.

It is a vital industry in its own right, and it is also a catalyst for a modern, open, trading economy. Good aviation links to the rest of the world attract businesses to the UK. But that doesn’t mean that growth should be met at any cost.

We're clear that aviation should pay its external costs. We think the best way to do that is through a carbon trading system, which will deliver the environmental outcome that we all want – lower overall emissions – in the most economically efficient way.

We are one of the founder members of Sustainable Aviation , a group which has been set up with the specific aim of ensuring the UK aviation industry meets its environmental responsibilities over the years ahead.

It is the first time different sectors of the aviation industry have worked together with this aim. Together we have created a series of long-term goals and specific commitments on a range of issues including climate change, noise, local environmental impact and social and economic development. All the major names in UK aviation have signed up to the strategy.

At BAA we have also set many targets to reduce our impact on the environment. View our Corporate Responsibility Report 2008 for more information.