IATA marks 10-year anniversary of carbon emissions strategy
At the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) Global Sustainable Aviation Summit this week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reaffirmed its commitment to a sustainable future.
In 2008, aviation leaders…
At the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) Global Sustainable Aviation Summit this week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reaffirmed its commitment to a sustainable future.
In 2008, aviation leaders from the airline, airport, air navigation and aviation manufacturing sectors signed a Declaration, committing to a four-pillar plan for carbon reduction. This included:
- Investment in new technology (including sustainable aviation fuels)
- Continuous operational improvements
- Better use of infrastructure
- A single global market-based measure
IATA argues that since then, flying has become 20% more fuel-efficient and notes that more sustainable aviation fuels are increasingly being proven.
In 2016 at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) was agreed. It aims to facilitate carbon-neutral growth from 2020.
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO, said: “Ten years ago, the entire aviation sector committed to a joint strategy for carbon-neutral growth and to work towards a carbon-free future. That was a daring goal. But with hard work and solid commitment of industry and government, carbon-neutral growth from 2020 will be a reality. And we are already looking beyond. By 2050 we will cut our net emissions to half 2005 levels.”
CORSIA
He said that the immediate priority on the aviation sustainability agenda is to successfully implement CORSIA as the single global market-based measure.
“Persuading more states to volunteer for CORSIA is important. In tandem, we are working with governments to prevent actions that undermine the agreement, such as the unilateral implementation of environmental taxes. The ICAO Assembly next year provides an opportunity for governments to reaffirm CORSIA as the single global measure for aviation climate mitigation. It’s a top priority for CORSIA to be effective,” de Juniac added.
2050 goals
Reducing carbon emissions to 50% of 2005 levels by 2050 will be an even greater challenge, de Juniac said, commenting: “Progress in technology, operations, and infrastructure – especially air traffic management – will match or better our fuel efficiency achievements of the past decade. But our 2050/minus fifty goal will test our resolve even more.
“We will not move forward on a consistent glide path, but we are on the right trajectory. The industry is ready for the next step-change in technology in the 2030s: hybrid and electric planes, and the large-scale rollout of sustainable fuels.”
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