Aviation Industry Sets a Global Example-Unprecedented Cooperation for Environmental Sustainability

At the global Aviation and Environment Summit in Geneva recently, commercial aviation industry leaders signed a declaration on climate change to lead towards carbon neutral growth and a totally sustainable industry. 

In a significant move, the declaration has brought together all sectors of commercial aviation—aircraft manufacturers, airlines, airports, air traffic control and engine manufacturers. This is the first time the industry has united in this way, highlighting the importance it is placing on environmental issues.

The declaration outlines aviation’s concept of “carbon-neutral growth” with an aspirational goal of carbon-free flight. The industry will achieve this through focusing on a four-pillar approach to climate change: investment in new technology, increasing operational efficiency, air traffic and airport infrastructure improvements, and appropriate economic measures.

The declaration states: “We agree on the need to accelerate action to mitigate our environmental impact, especially in respect to climate change while preserving our driving role in the sustainable development of our global society.

“Our efforts and commitment to work in partnership with governments, other industries and representatives of civil society will provide meaningful benefits on tackling climate change and other environmental challenges.”

The industry also called on governments to play their part by pushing forward a global, workable emissions trading scheme; helping with research and development; and being more proactive in reducing infrastructure blockages that result in unnecessary carbon emissions, such as implementing the Single European Sky.

According to Summit organiser, Dr Philippe Rochat, “The declaration is not just fine words. For the first time, the industry can agree on a set of common goals and a pathway to achieve those goals—through the industry’s four-pillar strategy. And we have a strong track record of driving through major industry initiatives. Look at what we have done with e-ticketing and safety. This declaration sends a signal that we are devoting the same energy, investment and sheer determination to ensure the industry has a sustainable future.”

Meanwhile, Auckland Airport and Christchurch International Airport Ltd are two of over 300 of the world’s airports that have joined the global aviation industry and also signed up to the declaration.

Although aviation only accounts for two percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, the declaration was designed to demonstrate and strengthen the industry’s commitment to introducing technological, operational and efficiency advances to reduce its impact.

“This declaration shows that the New Zealand aviation industry is committed to meeting the climate change challenge in a responsible manner and that Auckland Airport takes its environmental responsibilities as an industry leader very seriously,” Auckland Airport Chief Executive Don Huse said. “Together with our colleagues at Christchurch Airport, we are committed to the development of the aviation industry in a responsible and sustainable manner, and we are therefore pleased to sign up to the 2008 Aviation & Environment Summit Declaration.”

Rene Bakx, CIAL’s Chief Executive, said, “In signing up to this joint declaration, Christchurch Airport has reaffirmed its commitment to the environment, following the achievement of our carbon neutral status earlier this year. We will work with all players across the industry to target carbon-neutral growth as a step towards a carbon-free future for aviation.”

Robert J Aaronson, Director General of the global trade association of airport executives, Airports Council International, says “Airports around the world are already implementing energy efficient operations; this Declaration further demonstrates aviation’s coordinated efforts in tackling environmental challenges. All sectors of society—business, governments and individuals—have a role to play in addressing climate change. This declaration confirms aviation’s intention to grow and contribute to economies in a sustainable way.”

CIAL’s certification process through Landcare Research has seen the airport company measuring, managing, reducing and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions arising from its operational business activities. “We believe that CIAL is the first airport company in the Southern Hemisphere to attain certified carbon neutral status, through the reduction and offsetting of the greenhouse gas emissions directly generated by our airport company operations,” says Mr Bakx. “We are the gateway for the best of the South Island and, with an agreed focus on tourism and sustainability, the decisions to work towards this goal and to sign the ACI Declaration were straightforward for the Company to make.”

Auckland Airport is continually looking at how to be more sustainable, with its new international arrivals area boasting several significant “green” features, including, the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar array in New Zealand used to power the arrivals corridor lights, and solar panels for pre-heating water in the hot water system. Large storage tanks have also been installed to store rainwater for use in the building’s largest water user—the air-conditioning cooling towers.

Very significantly, Boeing and Airbus, who, as the world’s largest aerospace companies, were highly influential attendees at the Geneva Summit, have also signed an agreement to work together to ensure global interoperability in Air Traffic Management as part of their efforts to help reduce the impact of aviation on the environment. The companies will seek the acceleration of improvements to the world’s air transportation management system in order to increase efficiency and eliminate traffic congestion.

Scott Carson, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO, and Tom Enders, Airbus’s President and CEO, signed the agreement at the Geneva Summit.

“Airbus and Boeing are great competitors, and this has been a critical element that has sharpened our focus and efforts toward making aviation more efficient,” Carson said. “While our approaches often differ, we are working towards the same goal—to reduce aviation’s environmental impact. 

“I am convinced technology and innovation hold the key to reducing aviation’s environmental impact and increasing eco-efficiency, “ Enders said. “And competition is a great motivator for this. Where Boeing and Airbus share a common position on the environment and safety, it is in all our interests that we co-operate to achieve our common goals more quickly.”

The initiative by Airbus and Boeing to work together to help the aviation sector and governments choose the most direct path to a modernised air traffic management system is part of a three-pronged approach to help improve the environmental performance of aviation. The other two prongs are competition, which is critical for environmental and technological advances that result in new aircraft programmes such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787, and support for industry alignment on environmental positions where appropriate.

In the last 40 years, the aviation industry has made significant improvements in aircraft efficiency with reductions of 70 percent in CO², 90 percent in noise and 90 percent less unburned hydrocarbons. The Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE) targets reductions of 50 percent in CO² and 80 percent in NOx by 2020. A modernised air traffic management system will be a key contributor to reaching this goal.

Improvements to the global air transportation system that provide more efficient routing, better arrival management, and speed control will reduce inefficient delays and time in the air, which will save fuel and reduce emissions. Such Air Traffic Management improvements represent the greatest short-term opportunities to reduce CO² emissions.