Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s director general and chief executive said: ‘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.’
He was speaking at the World Business Summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen, giving a progress report on the aviation industry’s efforts to reduce emissions.
The four pillars cover technology, operations, infrastructure and economic measures.
The aviation industry has three ambitious targets, said Bisignani: a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency by 2020 compared to 2005; to use 10% alternative fuels by 2017; and a 50% absolute reduction in emissions by 2050.
He added: ‘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.’
IATA is also calling on governments to deliver a global approach to reducing aviation emissions in Kyoto 2.
Bisignani said: ‘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.’
He also highlighted ‘exciting recent developments’ being made in 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,’ said Bisignani.
‘Four successful test flights in the last year prove that biofuels work. We could achieve much more, much faster, with a fiscal and legal framework to accelerate research and reward investment. Governments must get on board.’
See also:
Sustainability 'an opportunity’ for tourism (06/10/2008)
Airlines commit to biofuel development (25/09/2008)
BA aims to unveil alternative fuel by March (14/07/2008)
ICAO aims to standardise carbon calculations (06/06/2008)
Opinion formers claim BA guilty of greenwash (16/04/2008)
Virgin biofuel flight dismissed as publicity stunt (25/02/2008)