Airline industry to cap carbon emissions

The airline industry has committed itself to achieving “carbon-neutral” growth by 2020. “Two years ago we set a vision to achieve carbonneutral growth on the way to a carbon-free future. Today we have taken a major step forward by committing to a global cap on our emissions in 2020. After this date, aviation’s emissions will not grow even as demand increases. Airlines are the first global industry to make such a bold commitment,” said Giovanni Bisignani, International Air Transport Association (Iata) director general and CEO. He was delivering his State of the Industry address to 500 of the industry’s top leaders gathered in Kuala Lumpur for the 65th Iata Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit. The commitment to carbonneutral growth completes a set of three sequential goals for air transport: (1) a 1.5% average annual improvement in fuel efficiency from 2009 to 2020; (2) carbon-neutral growth from 2020 and (3) a 50% absolute reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. In 2009 the carbon footprint of air transport is expected to shrink by 7%. Of this, 5% is due to the recession and 2% is directly related to efficiency gains from Iata’s four-pillar strategy. “No other industry is as united. And no other industry can point to such good results and progress,” said Bisignani. “Positive economic measures are needed to bridge the gap until the full benefits of future technologies – including sustainable biofuels – are realised,” he said.