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News
Reducing Aviation’s Emissions
-IATA Calls for a
Global Sectoral Approach-
Copenhagen - The International
Air Transport Association (IATA) reiterated aviation’s commitment to
responsibly addressing the challenges of climate change and called on
governments to deliver a global and sectoral approach to reducing
aviation emissions in Kyoto 2.
“Air transport is a global industry with a good track
record and ambitious targets for environmental performance. But to
achieve them, we need governments to take a global approach,” said
Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO in a statement to the
World Business Summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen.
Bisignani called on governments to define a sectoral
approach in Kyoto 2 with global accounting for aviation’s emissions
through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and open
access for airlines to properly regulated carbon markets. Such an
approach would maintain a level playing field for all airlines and
replace overlapping national and regional schemes.
A global approach is already underpinned with three
ambitious industry targets: (1) a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency by
2020 compared to 2005, (2) to use 10% alternative fuels by 2017 and (3) a
50% absolute reduction in emissions by 2050. “We are already working to
set an important fourth target: a date for carbon-neutral growth beyond
which our emissions will not grow even as demand increases,” said
Bisignani.
Bisignani gave a progress report on the aviation
industry’s efforts to reduce emissions. “Aviation’s emissions will fall
by 8% this year. Some 6% of this is from the recession and 2% is directly
related to IATA’s four-pillar strategy,” said Bisignani.
Pillar 1 Technology:
Fuel efficiency improved 70% over the past forty years, 23% in the last decade
alone. This is mainly due to better aircraft and engines.
Pillars 2
Operations: “How we fly makes a difference. IATA’s Green
Teams are working with airlines around the world to implement best
practices. This work is now saving around 30 million tonnes of CO2 each
year,” said Bisignani.
Pillar 3
Infrastructure: IATA’s work to shorten routes is
saving at least a further 30 million tonnes of CO2.
Pillar 4 Positive
Economic Measures: Some 30 airlines have carbon offset programs.
In June, IATA will launch an industry offset program so airlines can
offer this option even more broadly.
Biofuels: Bisignani made special
note of the industry progress on biofuels. “One of the most exciting
recent developments is the progress being made in sustainable next
generation biofuels. These have the potential to reduce our carbon
footprint by up to 80%. Three years ago nobody thought biofuels could be
applied to aviation. Four successful test flights in the last year prove
that biofuels work. For the first time aviation could have a sustainable
alternative to fossil fuels. Airlines did this work without government
involvement. But we could achieve much more, much faster, with a fiscal
and legal framework to accelerate research and reward investment.
Governments must get on board,” Bisignani said.
“Working with governments, a united industry - airlines, airports,
manufacturer and air navigation service provider - made air transport the
safest way to travel. By working together with a coordinated global
approach we can make aviation the first global industry to achieve
carbon-neutral growth and a model for others to follow,” said Bisignani.
View
Giovanni Bisignani's speech
-IATA-
Contact:
Anthony Concil
Director Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 22 770 2967
Email: corpcomms@iata.org
Notes for editors:
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