Ian Pearson, a British government minister, has heavily criticised some airlines in the Guardian newspaper. He said they're not doing enough to cut down on carbon emissions to help stop climate change. The BBC's political correspondent, Mark Sanders, reports from Westminster:

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There are plans to include aviation in Europe's Emissions Trading Scheme. Airlines would be issued with pollution permits; those that cut emissions would be able to sell their surplus while an airline that increased its emissions would have to buy more permits.

The minister said that "British Airways are only just playing ball" and that the American airlines' attitude to the scheme was "a disgrace." His attack on the industry comes at a time when the government is sensitive to criticism that its policies on aviation and climate change are too timid.

Mark Sanders, Political Correspondent, BBC News

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barbed criticisms
sharp, short, unreserved and usually unkind, negative comments

well beyond
much further than

the aviation industry
the airline business

misinformed
given incorrect, wrong information

issued with
given, officially provided

permits
licences, official and legal permission

surplus
extra amounts that aren't needed

only just playing ball
doing the minimum that is needed in order to follow the rules

sensitive to
easily upset, affected by

too timid
not brave enough, too reserved and conservative, not going far enough

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