The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) applauds the adoption of a long-term aspirational goal for international aviation of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, by governments gathered for the 41st ICAO Assembly last week. The decision sends an important signal of the resolve of the international aviation community to decarbonize.
IBAC Director General Kurt Edwards said, “This is a significant achievement to have a collective goal across the global civil aviation industry and clear recognition by States of the important role they will play in working to achieve the long-term goal. The resolution encompasses the four guiding principles that our sector shared prior to the Assembly, and we are eager to start the real work to achieve this ambitious goal, including collaborating with governments and stakeholders to decarbonize the industry.”Â
The global business aviation community has long been mindful of the need to mitigate its impacts on the environment. The sector is known for its innovative, cutting-edge technologies that allow aircraft to fly more efficiently and cleanly. In 2009, the industry issued the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change (BACCC) outlining its climate-action efforts through a combination of measures: technology, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), operational improvements and modernized infrastructure, and market-based measures (MBMs), such as offsetting. Committing to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 means that the use of each of these becomes more important. Analyses indicate, however, that meeting this new goal will require an aggressive shift in aircraft innovation and an immense increase in SAF production and availability.Â
