Rising to the environmental challenge to aviation: The need for a global solution (CenterForAviation.com)
January 13, 2012
In this paper, Vijay Poonoosamy, chair of IATA’s Industry Affairs Committee, examines some of the issues around the European Union’s controversial Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), most notably the need for a global system that will actually serve to reduce emissions – rather than increase international conflict.
Even if aviation accounts for 2% of man-made CO2 emissions and even though today’s aircraft are 70% more fuel efficient than 40 years ago, we know that we are part of a growing global problem and that we must thus be part of the global solution.
That’s why IATA, ACI, CANSO and the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations jointly and voluntarily adopted three specific targets, namely to:
(i) Improve fuel efficiency by an average of 1.5% per annum between 2010 and 2020
That’s a reduction of 2.2 billion tonnes of CO2 and that’s also 12,000 new aircraft which airlines will need to purchase over that period at a cost of USD1.3 trillion.
(ii) Implement Carbon Neutral Growth from 2020
That’s essentially capping NET emissions from that date.
AND
(iii) Reduce NET emissions by 50% by 2050 compared to 2005 levels
IATA has also adopted a fourth target: Use 10% alternative fuel by 2017
Sustainable and commercially viable alternative fuels for aviation WILL be the ‘game changer’ in reaching global aviation emission goals.
Complete article in: CenterForAviation.com