Signatories from the global aviation industry including the
International Air Transport Association and Airports Council International
(ACI) World have joined a pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
in line with the Paris Agreement goal for climate change.
The aim of the initiative is to avoid global warming
exceeding an increase of 1.5°C.
IATA says the goal will present a “huge challenge” for the
industry, which it says must “progressively reduce its emissions while
accommodating the growing demand of a world that is eager to fly”. According to
the association, to be able to serve the needs of the 10 billion people
expected to fly in 2050, at least 1.8 gigatons of carbon must be abated in that
year alone. Moreover, the net-zero commitment implies that a cumulative total
of 21.2 gigatons of carbon will be abated between now and 2050.
To enable efforts to achieve net zero, the industry will
look to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon
Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). IATA says
this will stabilise international emissions at 2019 levels in the short to
medium term.
ACI World says the goal will be achieved through a
combination of initiatives, including supporting new aircraft technologies such
as hydrogen and electric, as well as improvements in operational efficiency and
infrastructure. The acceleration of the development of sustainable aviation
fuels (SAFs) is expected to play a major role in reducing the impact of
aviation, according to the council. Carbon removal measures will capture any
outstanding emissions.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, said around 65 per
cent of the 1.8 gigatons of carbon expected to be produced by aviation in 2050
could be abated by the use of SAFs, while 13 per cent can be avoided through
the use of new propulsion technologies such as hydrogen. A further 3 per cent
will be abated through efficiency improvements, 11 per cent through carbon
capture and 8 per cent by offsets.
“The actual split, and the trajectory to get there, will
depend on what solutions are the most cost-effective at any particular time,”
Walsh added. “Whatever the ultimate path to net zero will be, it is absolutely
true that the only way to get there will be with the value chain and
governments playing their role.”
Luis Felipe de Oliveira, ACI World director general,
commented: “The road ahead will be challenging but aviation is no stranger to challenges.
This historic declaration shows the determination of the sector to work
together to take this important climate action. It is now imperative that
governments support these efforts to make this vital sector sustainable. This
makes it all the more urgent that member states of the ICAO support the
adoption of a long-term climate goal at the 41st ICAO Assembly in
2022.”
Walsh said: “Governments must be active partners in
achieving net zero by 2050. As with all other successful energy transitions,
government policies have set the course and blazed a trail towards success. The
costs and investment risks are too high otherwise. The focus must be on
reducing carbon. Limiting flying with retrograde and punitive taxes would
stifle investment and could limit flying to the wealthy. And we have never seen
an environment tax actually fund carbon-reducing activities. Incentives are the
proven way forward. They solve the problem, create jobs and grow prosperity.”
A number of airlines have individually pledged to achieve
net zero emissions by 2050, while corporate travel buyers have formed the
Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance to invest in SAFs. The World Travel and Tourism
Council recently released a roadmap for the global tourism industry to achieve
its sustainability goals.