Quick, decisive joint actions by governments and industry are needed to realise net zero CO2 emissions for all flights within and departing the EU, UK and the European Free Trade Association bloc by 2050, according to a new report.
The Destination 2050 – A Route to Net Zero European Aviation report has been produced by five European aviation associations and says that the target can be achieved through four key measures:
• Improvements in aircraft and engine technologies, which could achieve emission reductions of 37 per cent
• Using sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), which could achieve emission reductions of 34 per cent
• Implementing economic measures, which could achieve emission reductions of 8 per cent
• Improvements in air traffic management (ATM) and aircraft operations, which could achieve emission reductions of 6 per cent.
The report further assumes there will be a reduction in demand due to the above measures, resulting in the net zero CO2 goal. Nevertheless, European air passenger numbers are projected to grow on average by approximately 1.4 per cent per year between 2018 and 2050.
The initiative involves Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe), Airlines for Europe (A4E), AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe, Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation and the European Regions Airline Association.
Thomas Reynaert, managing director at A4E, said: “A robust regulatory framework will be paramount in achieving not only an environmentally sustainable future, but also a financially resilient and competitive European aviation industry as a whole. We remain committed to work with policy-makers to take aviation forward jointly for the next generation of travellers.»
Olivier Jankovec, director general at ACI Europe, said: “The decisive and tangible actions set out in this roadmap are unprecedented. Here we have an entire sector not just committing to decarbonisation, but actually charting the path to make it happen and effectively contribute to the EU’s Climate objectives and the Paris Agreement.”
Fuente: businesstravelnewseurope.com
