The Internatioinal Air Transport Association announced plans today to take on what its chairman called its "toughest challenge" -- helping combat global climate change by cutting its carbon emissions to zero. The United Nations estimates that the global industry's "carbon footprint" is now about 2 percent of all emissions, and will go to 3 percent by 2050, based on the projected growth of air travel. But chairman Giovanni Bisignani, speaking in Vacouver to the group's annual meeting, said that won't do.
"In today's political reality that is not acceptable -- for any industry," Bisignani said. "We must aim high. Air transport must become an industry that does not pollute --zero emissions." Achieving that will require leadership from governments, the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation, and "a technology leap" from aircraft manufacturers and fuel suppliers, he said. He promised airlines will do their part by making environmental concerns as important as safety and security.
This is an issue that U.S. airlines have said little about. If they have, they must be talking to themselves and not telling the rest of us about the efforts they're making. At the same time, European carriers -- and European businesses and consumers in general -- appear far more aware of the issues and what must be done to deal with themt. If that concerns you, tell us -- and the airlines -- about it.
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