07 Dec 2010 12:12:14

Richard Branson: We would welcome a fair carbon tax

Richard Branson has said he would welcome the introduction of carbon taxes if they were applied "across the board" and not just to airlines.

Speaking at the United Nations' climate change summit in Cancun, the Virgin mogul said industry should be capable of reducing emissions and combating global warming if governments are unable to reach an accord.

According to the Guardian, Mr Branson said: "[Carbon] taxes are fine if they are global. Everyone must be in the same boat," adding "we would welcome it if they were done equitably".

The business leader also said if the "worst came to the worst" industry would be capable of cutting 17 billion tons of predicted carbon emissions by 2020, the news provider reported.

"If governments set a framework in which clean energy was not taxed and dirty energy was, then there is a chance [industry would be able to solve the problems themselves]," Mr Branson was quoted as saying.

The comments came as Mr Branson launched a new website which publishes the energy efficiency rating of "almost every large ocean-going vessel" and specific emissions data from container ships as part of the Carbon War Room project.