Ryanair is now one of the top 10 highest carbon emitters within Europe, demonstrating the impact of global travel as well as the issues surrounding effective legislation.

Up to now Europe’s top polluter had been an exclusive reserve of coal-fired powerplants, but Brussels-based organisation Transport & Environment (T&E) has highlighted the EU’s latest official figures showing that all airlines’ carbon emissions grew 4.9 per cent within Europe last year, which has contributed to carbon pollution from flying in Europe rising 26.3 per cent in the last five years.

Andrew Murphy, aviation manager at T&E, said: “When it comes to climate, Ryanair is the new coal. This trend will only continue until Europe realises that this undertaxed and under-regulated sector needs to be brought into line, starting with a tax on kerosene and the introduction of mandates that force airlines to switch to zero-emission jet fuel.”

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