Climate group sues Dutch airline KLM over ‘greenwashing’ adverts

The Dutch airline is being sued by environmental groups for misleadingly promoting the sustainable use of flying.

Lawyers from ClientEarth are working with a campaign group in the Netherlands to bring a claim that the ad campaigns of the airline give a false impression of its plans to address its impact on the climate.

Consumers are misled into believing that its flights won't make a difference in the climate emergency. Hiske Arts said that this is a myth.

Unchecked flying is one of the fastest ways to heat up the planet. Customers need to be aware of claims that suggest otherwise.

Air France KLM's parent company was the subject of a pre-action letter submitted by activists from Fossielvrij NL. Their legal action takes aim at the campaign of the airline, which presents it as a more sustainable future.

The campaign says that it is on track to reach net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050, and that it will introduce hydrogen and electric planes.

According to the litigants, the aviation sector cannot reach net zero without limiting the overall number of flights.

While climate experts warn we need to reduce air traffic to keep a just and livable world within reach, the airline industry is lobbying against climate regulation.

It is now or never for climate action. Airlines can't compete for business when they claim they are tackling the climate crisis, when the reality is they are making it worse.

The aviation sector is using misleading advertising to protect its licence to grow, just as the fossil fuel industry is using greenwashing to protect their licence to operate. Legislation is needed to end these delaying tactics.

The Dutch advertising regulator gave a rap on the knuckles over the use of the line Be a hero, fly CO 2 zero. The carbon credits bought by the airline for the scheme resulted in some offsetting of emissions, but it was not adequate for the airline to claim carbon neutrality.

The slogan was judged to be an absolute claim by the watchdog, but the airline could not prove it. At the time, Air France did not comment on the reports.

50% of all commercial aviation emissions are caused by just 1% of the world's population.

Flying is one of the most climate- damaging products people can buy.

It is unjust that a small group of frequent flyers continue to fuel climate breakdown when it is the people with less money that will suffer the most as the world gets dangerously hotter.

The letter of ClientEarth has been received and will be studied.