Twenty-seven company executives and trade association officials are calling on international governments to work with industry to help reach established goals for reducing aircraft emissions. In an open letter to “governments,” executives from companies such as Airbus, Bombardier and Honeywell, along with leaders of organizations that include GAMA and IBAC, outlined their goals to achieve carbon-neutral growth in aviation by 2020 and to cut the net CO2 emissions in half by 2050.
But the leaders said they need government to support these goals through air traffic management investment, new technology research, a policy framework that would accelerate alternative fuel availability and a “smart regulatory environment” that encourages aviation development. As for market-based measures, the letter states support for a “a single global carbon offsetting scheme.”
“We have issued ambitious efficiency goals and are working hard to achieve them, but we cannot do this alone,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “Today’s letter outlines the actions we expect governments and legislatures to take to ensure success.”
The leaders issued the letter September 30 as they met in Geneva through the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG). ATAG also released a report, "Aviation Climate Solutions," highlighting examples of industry efforts to reduce emissions. That report noted two Gulfstream Aerospace efforts: its Green Teams that were established in 2012 to address sustainability efforts and the recent renewable fuels agreement with World Fuel Service that covers a consistent supply of renewable fuels for the company’s daily flight operations in Savannah, Ga.
