Airlines’ Emission Disclosures The Fine Line Between Opportunity and Environmental Inaction

The aviation industry is notorious for its environmental impact. In response to growing climate change awareness, companies began reporting carbon emissions in the early 2000s to gain public approval. However, the information provided is often filtered to enhance public image, leading to concerns about transparency and greenwashing. This study examines Ryanair’s 2021 Sustainability Report to assess the transparency of its environmental policies and the sincerity of its language. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Hallidayan linguistics, the analysis focuses on how the language reflects the company’s attitudes and intentions. The term ‘transparency’ involves many contradictions, such as openness versus secrecy. While transparency is a valued ideal, preliminary results suggest that Ryanair’s report may construct a reality that serves the airline’s interests rather than reflecting genuine transparency.