{"id":2479,"date":"2022-02-07T17:33:57","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T17:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenairnews.com\/?p=2479"},"modified":"2022-03-14T19:25:37","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T19:25:37","slug":"european-summit-of-governments-and-industry-pledge-commitment-to-net-zero-aviation-emissions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenairnews.com\/?p=2479","title":{"rendered":"European summit of governments and industry pledge commitment to net zero aviation emissions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A summit of 37 European countries, the European Commission and representatives from nearly 150 companies and stakeholders convened by the French government, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, has affirmed support for the goal of achieving carbon neutrality in the air transport sector by 2050. Signatories to the \u2018Toulouse Declaration<\/a>\u2019 have pledged to implement a basket of measures \u201cwith effective and ambitious interim milestones\u201d to accelerate the transition of both the European as well as the international aviation sector to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The United States, Canada, Morocco and Japan also took part in the summit and backed the Declaration. Another participant was Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the ICAO Council, who commended the Declaration and its ambition for strengthening ICAO\u2019s CORSIA international carbon offsetting scheme and the adoption of a long-term CO2 reduction goal at the UN agency\u2019s assembly later this year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the conclusion of the European Aviation Summit<\/a>, French transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari commented: \u201cToday, a new chapter in aviation history is being opened. In committing to reducing the carbon emissions of air transport by 2050, Europe is leading by example. All of us \u2013 governments, industry stakeholders, associations \u2013 have come together to rally behind this goal. We shall proudly and in unison uphold it on an international level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The summit held last week in Toulouse brough together the 27 EU member states and 10 other member states of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), including the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway. Working sessions were held at ENAC, the French National School of Civil Aviation, which included a presentation of a study of citizens of a dozen countries \u2013 Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK and the United States. The study highlighted citizens\u2019 desire to both continue travelling and their strong expectations for air transport decarbonisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey hope for a firm commitment from the air sector on a global level and particularly count on biofuels and new engine technologies (electric and\/or hydrogen), despite being aware of the rise in prices that this will entail,\u201d reported the French presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basket of measures to achieve the net zero goal include aircraft technology advancement, improvements in operations, the use of sustainable aviation fuels, market-based measures, carbon pricing, financial incentives and support to foster environmental and climate innovation in the air transport sector, of which \u201ca number are addressed in the [EU\u2019s] Fit for 55 package,\u201d notes the declaration. It calls for \u201ca regular and constructive dialogue, in Europe and worldwide, on the decarbonisation of aviation between authorities, industry and civil society\u201d and for partners worldwide to work together for the adoption at this year\u2019s ICAO Assembly of an ambitious long-term aspirational goal for international aviation of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The declaration also emphasises a need to address the non-CO2 impacts of aviation based on on-going research and \u201crecognising that many CO2 reduction measures in aviation also reduce non-CO2 impacts\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also \u201cinvites other countries and international organisations to join this declaration, engage in the development of sectoral roadmaps, and work together towards sustainability and decarbonisation of aviation worldwide.\u201d The declaration reaffirms the commitments set out in the UK-brokered declaration of the International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition<\/a> agreed by 25 countries at COP26 last November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The European aviation industry last year set a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with an interim 2030 target of reducing carbon emissions on intra-European flights by 55% compared to 1990 levels, in line with the EU\u2019s \u2018Fit for 55<\/a>\u2019 climate goal. At the same time, the Destination 2050<\/a> roadmap, the work of the five major industry associations, was published on how the goals could be achieved. The sector proposed an \u2018EU Pact for Aviation Decarbonisation\u2019 between industry and national and EU policymakers to agree on targets and the alignment of the roadmap with the enabling of the necessary regulatory and financial framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Destination 2050 partners now expect the Toulouse Declaration to be translated into a structured dialogue and concrete policy action,\u201d commented the five industry associations representing airlines, manufacturers, airports and air navigation \u2013 A4E, ACI Europe, ASD, ERA and CANSO \u2013 in a joint statement<\/a>. \u201cIndustry is already transitioning to a decarbonised future through improvements in aircraft and engine technologies, the development of sustainable aviation fuels, improvements in air traffic management and aircraft operations, as well as through efficient economic measures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Urging the Commission and EU Member States signing the Declaration to develop and support its proposed Pact, the industry partners called for public and private funding to channel investments, R&D and innovation into decarbonisation and a more sustainable aviation ecosystem, and by including relevant aviation activities into the EU taxonomy for sustainable finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also proposed initiatives and incentives for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n