Ryanair

Does the core business genuinely avoid or reduce emissions, or build climate resilience? Share of revenue that is actually 'green'. Fossil-dependent models score low.

Ryanair's core business — selling cheap flights to maximise passenger volumes — structurally increases absolute aviation CO₂ emissions; high load factors and newer aircraft reduce intensity per seat but do not mitigate the climate harm of growing total flights, and aviation's non-CO₂ warming effects (contrails, NOx) further compound the damage.

Credible, science-based targets (SBTi), a real net-zero plan with progress to date, and CDP disclosure — not just a dated press release.

Ryanair has no SBTi-validated targets; its stated goal of reducing CO₂ per passenger km by 10% by 2030 (vs 2019) is an intensity target only, incompatible with 1.5°C absolute reduction pathways, and it has not submitted to the Science Based Targets initiative or disclosed to CDP with a verified score.

Operational footprint, labour and social practices, and governance quality across the company's own operations and supply chain.

Ryanair has a troubled labour relations record including protracted union disputes, strikes across multiple European countries, and criticism from pilots and cabin crew over pay and working conditions; its governance has drawn scrutiny over board independence and CEO Michael O'Leary's concentrated influence, partially offset by reasonable operational safety metrics.

Quality of disclosure, independent third-party verification, and how much hard data backs the company's claims.

Ryanair publishes an annual sustainability report with some fleet and emissions data, but disclosure lacks independent third-party assurance to recognised standards (GRI, TCFD-aligned), does not include Scope 3 supply-chain emissions in a verifiable way, and its per-passenger intensity claims are not independently audited.

Controversies, litigation, pollution, fossil-fuel lobbying, conflict-zone involvement and governance scandals. Higher means cleaner.

Ryanair has faced multiple upheld greenwashing rulings from advertising watchdogs in the UK (ASA) and Belgium, was fined and censured over misleading environmental claims, has repeatedly clashed with regulators and trade unions, and continues to oppose stronger aviation carbon pricing measures in EU policy consultations.