Aviation industry committed to reduce emissions by half in 2050

Manila Bulletin
September 30, 2011

MANILA, Philippines — Airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and manufacturers committed to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5% annually to 2020 and cut CO2 emissions in half by 2050, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) pledged.

Hence, the association is inviting governments to join industry as committed partners in a global approach to reducing aviation’s carbon emissions that could also include a global Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) or other compensation measures.

“The industry’s value chain is united around ambitious targets and a clear strategy to reduce its carbon footprint,” reiterated Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO in a speech at the recent Greener Skies conference in Hong Kong.

“To achieve the positive economic measures, technology improvements, more efficient infrastructure and better operations necessary to meet our targets, governments need to be much more proactive stakeholders and real partners,” he stressed.

Indeed, cutting net emissions in half by 2050, compared to 2005 is a challenging target, Tyler conceded.

“Airlines represent 2% of global man-made CO2 emissions. This year that is estimated to be some 650 million tonnes of CO2 emitted while carrying 2.8 billion passengers and 46 million tonnes of cargo,” he elaborated.

By 2050, the industry aspires to carry 16 billion passengers and 400 million tones of cargo with some 320 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

The industry has agreed on a four-pillar strategy to achieve emissions reductions that has also been endorsed by governments through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The four pillars are: (1) investments in technology, (2) more efficient infrastructure, (3) more efficient operations and (4) positive economic measures.

Sustainable biofuels for aviation are also rapidly evolving. At least six airlines have carried commercial passengers on flights powered by biofuels. Over their lifecycle, sustainable biofuels could reduce the industry’s carbon footprint by up to 80%.

“Biofuels could be a game changer,” the CEO noted. “But despite the quick progress to date, some major hurdles still remain, such as bringing big oil on board and getting the policy framework of fiscal and legal incentives to encourage their commercialization. We need positive economic measures that result from strategic government decisions to support the growth of green economies – including aviation.”