In 2008, the aviation industry agreed a global, sector-wide climate action framework - a world first. The framework is based on a set of three global goals: short, medium and long-term.
Aviation industry reducing its environmental footprint
Short-term goal
1.5% average annual fuel efficiency improvement from 2009 to 2020
Progress
Currently tracking well above goal with 2% improvement
How is industry achieving this?
Introduction of new technology: replacing older aircraft with newer, more efficient ones.
Significant investment required: world's airlines will purchase 12,000 new aircraft at $1.3 trillion
Medium-term goal
Stabilise net aviation CO2 emissions at 2020 levels through carbon-neutral growth.
Progress
Adoption of global offsetting scheme CORSIA
How is industry achieving this?
Any emissions that aviation industry is unable to reduce through technological, operational or infrastructural measures, or by using sustainable aviation fuels, will need to be offset by market-based measures.
Long-term goal
Halving net CO2 emissions by 2050 compared to what they were in 2005.
Progress
Significant research efforts underway
How is industry achieving this?
Two main areas of action: development of sustainable aviation fuels; research into future design concepts by aircraft and engine manufacturers.
Already efficient...but room for improvement
The aviation industry has made significant progress in fuel and CO2 efficiency, halving the amount of fuel used per flight compared to 1990. In other words, your flight today would generate just 50% the CO2 compared to the same flight back in 1990. This has been achieved through technological advancement and improvements in operations and infrastructure.
Overall emissions from aviation have risen though, as the volume of air traffic (both passenger and cargo) has increased. Most growth has occurred in emerging economies, as they begin to reap the benefits of air travel.
Trade and tourism are important drivers of global economic development, and as more people become affluent, their appetite to travel the world increases. The industry's climate action framework is designed to help find the balance between the two goals - economic growth through connectivity, and reduction of climate impact.
Pillars of the industry's climate action strategy
The industry's three global climate goals are underpinned by several pillars of climate action:
Technological innovation
Each new generation of aircraft is roughly 15% to 20% more fuel efficient, and manufacturers invest around $15 billion per year in research intro greater efficiency. In the future, we may even be able to fly on electric or hybrid aircraft on short-haul flights.
Sustainable aviation fuels
Sustainable aviation fuels have great potential for securing the sustainable growth of air travel as they could reduce CO2 emissions by around 80% compared with fossil fuels, without the need to radically change the fuel supply systems or engines of aircraft.
Operational improvements
We're making the current fleet lighter and more efficient and using new air traffic control techniques to save emissions. For example, landing using a continuous descent into an airport saves at least 150kg of CO2 per flight. Adding wingtip devices to an aircraft can reduce fuel use by 4%.
Infrastructure efficiencies
Shortening flying times by a minute saves at least 100kg of CO2 per flight. Reformed air traffic management systems in the United States, Asia and Europe will cut emissions significantly.
Market-based measures
Economic measures are a part of our strategy until technology and more efficient operations achieve our targets. We are working with governments to design a global market-based measure that accounts for emissions only once, ensuring passengers do not face multiple layers of taxation.
