IATA’s vision is to achieve carbon neutral growth in the medium term and in the long term for air transport to become an industry that does not pollute – zero emissions
Air Transport’s Environmental Track Record
- Air transport contributes 2% of global manmade CO2 emissions
- Forecast to grow to 3% by 2050 (IPCC 1999)
- Total climate change impact (including radiative forcing and other greenhouse gases) is 3%, forecast to grow to 5% by 2050 (IPCC 1999)
- Air transport has 70% less fuel and CO2 emissions per pkm compared to 1970s
- IATA member airlines achieved their 2000 –2010 goal for a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency (and CO2 emissions) in 2006.
- Improved fuel efficiency by over 3% in 2006 and 2007
- In 2009 emissions will reduce by 8%, 2% of which are the result of industry efforts and the remainder due to capacity cuts
- IATA forecasts 25% reduction in fuel consumption per Revenue Tonne Kilometres RTK 2005 to 2020
IATA’s Four Point Strategy to Address Climate Change
1. Technology
- Short term: enhancements and modifications to existing in-service fleet, including drop-in alternative fuels
- Medium term: accelerate fleet renewal, introduce latest technologies
- Long term: radical new technologies / designs.
- IATA Technology Roadmap identifies technologies that could reduce fuel burn per aircraft of up to 30%
2. Operations
- Improved operations can save fuel and CO2 by up to 6% (IPCC 1999).
- IATA helps fuel conservation by compiling best practices, publishing guidance, visiting airlines, and training (via Green Teams).
- Green teams saved 10.9 million tonnes of CO2 in 2008 (saving US$3.7 bn)
- IATA will extend fuel conservation programmes and promote airline environmental management systems.
3. Infrastructure
- Governments and infrastructure providers could eliminate up to 12% of CO2 emissions by addressing airport and airspace inefficiencies (IPCC 1999)
- Single European Sky, US Next Gen Air Transport System and flexible airspace access would contribute to these savings.
- IATA calls on governments to cut inefficiencies in half over next 5 years
- IATA’s work with governments in 2008 shortened 214 air routes and led to improvements at 103 airports, saving 3.9 million tonnes of CO2 (saving US$1.3 billion)
4. Economic measures
- First three pillars alone will not be enough to stop growth in aviation’s carbon footprint. Positive economic measure are needed to bridge the gap
- Governments must take a global sectoral approach to reducing aviation emissions:
- Aviation emissions treated as an indivisible sector total and not apportioned to individual States
- Emitters charged just once for emissions
Since 2004 IATA’s proactive strategy for fuel efficiency has saved 65.1 million tonnes in CO2 emissions and US$13.3 billion.
IATA’s Goals
- Short term (to 2012): improve fuel efficiency 1.5% per annum
- Mid term (2013 – 2020): improve fuel efficiency a further 1.5% per annum
- (2020 – 2025): achieve carbon neutral growth
- Long term (to 2050): reduce emissions 50% by 2050 compared to 2005
IATA’s 2009 Target
- Achieve a reduction of at least 10 million tonnes of CO2 from operations and infrastructure.