More carbon-emissions cutting in aviation called for

The managing of aviation’s two-percent-global-carbon-emissions contribution was the subject of a Feb. 26, 2013 International Air Transport Association (IATA) press release titled: “Aviation Needs a Global Agreement on Market-Based Measures: But Long-term Solution is Technology, Operations and Infrastructure.”

As I understand things, governments have been asked by IATA to come to agreement on a global market-based-measures approach that will assist the aviation industry in managing the two percent-contribution of “manmade” global carbon-emissions that aviation is responsible for producing.

So far, “The aviation value chain—airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and manufacturers—has agreed to three sequential targets on climate change: a 1.5% average annual improvement in fuel efficiency to 2020, capping emissions with carbon neutral-growth from 2020 (CNG2020), and cutting net emissions in half by 2050 compared to 2005 levels,” according to information that was brought forth in the IATA release. Responding thus far – as for the setting of such targets – is the global industry only.

Furthermore, there are “four pillars of the aviation industry’s strategy on climate change: investment in new technology, more efficient operations, better infrastructure and positive economic measure or MBMs,” IATA acknowledged.

The way I see it, achieving the specified climate change targets will, apparently, take a huge commitment. Keep in mind this is no small undertaking.

Nevertheless, in a presentation given in Hong Kong at the Greener Skies Conference, Tony Tyler, was encouraged, emphasizing much progress in the areas of “‘aviation and the environment,’” has been made, the IATA’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer further indicating: “‘Governments are fully focused on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to agree upon a global solution at their upcoming Assembly. And the industry is united and working hard to support that by finding an equitable way to share the burden of achieving CNG2020. A lot of hard work lies ahead but we are committed to achieving a positive result.’”

Image above: United States Coast Guard

– Alan Kandel