Dawi Oil attended IATA 5th Aviation & Environment Summit in Switzerland
Dawi Oil delegate was among Over 300 delegates met to review progress in reducing aviation’s carbon emissions from 16-17 Sep 2010 Geneva-Switzerland.
Delegates at ATAG’s 5th Aviation & Environment Summit considered the potential for reducing emissions through new technologies, improvements in air traffic management and the use of sustainable aviation bio-fuels. Aviation is the only industry to have developed global targets for reducing emissions. Participants urged governments to endorse these and establish the global framework to deliver them, via the 37th ICAO Assembly and the UN Climate negotiations in Cancún.
Over 300 delegates from all parts of the aviation industry met with representatives of civil society, governments and suppliers, Dawi Oil Vice Chairman Dr. Walid Tamim had the honor of participating at this important event and expressing the willingness to comply with IATA standards and walk along the global partners in reaching the 2050 targets of Zero emission. The focus at this summit has been to assess progress towards the industry-wide targets to reduce aviation carbon emissions. Aviation is the only industry to present a set of global targets to the world’s governments.
The targets are to: 1) Improve its fuel efficiency by an average of 1.5 percent per annum from now through 2020. 2) Cap the growth of its net carbon emissions from 2020 ( carbon neutral growth from 2020 and 3) To halve its net emissions by 2050 compared to 2005 levels.
The three areas of industry development that carry the greatest potential for emissions reduction are new technologies, air traffic management improvements and the use of sustainable aviation bio-fuels. Summit delegates heard from aviation stakeholders about the current developments and the potential to deliver them. They called for governments to continue supporting research and development funding of advanced aeronautic exploration at academic institutions, adding to the significant research funding contributions already made by the industry.
Delegates reiterated industry calls to speed up the delivery of streamlined air navigation systems including the next Generation System in the United States and the single European sky, the two of which would introduce significant efficiencies and carbon reductions.
Aviation bio-fuels are expected to receive full certification for use on commercial flights within the next six months and delegates turned to the challenges of commercialization and securing sufficient supply whilst ensuring that such fuels meet agreed sustainability criteria.
A significant project was launched at the Summit- a team from across the industry and Cranfield University announced the start of the SURF initiative to support the development of sustainable aviation bio-fuels from algae. The industry is making significant progress with small and mid-scale projects, but calls were also made for further funding as well as policy and fiscal incentives from governments to encourage this fledgling energy industry.
Three further announcements at the Summit provided strong evidence of an industry active and reducing emission through infrastructure partnerships. A place announced at the fourth Aviation And Environment Summit to introduce continuous descent approaches at 100 airports across Europe by 2013 has already resulted in 83 airports committed and carbon emissions already being reduced- well on the way to saving half a million tons of C02 a year. Pioneered by ACI Europe, over 22 airports in Europe have also signed up to the Airport Carbon Accreditation program moving them towards carbon neutral airport status: over 400000 tons of C02 have already been saved due to this project. In addition, IATA launched iFlex, a project aimed at providing maximum efficiency with flexible flight routing over ultra long-haul sectors that could reduce fuel burn by as much as two percent.
Delegates heard from their industry partners about the multitude of ways that teams from airports, airlines, air navigation service providers and manufacturers are working together on projects to reduce carbon emission. The Summit discussed how these special projects can the turned into day-to-day best practice across the sector and around the world. Delegates encouraged each other to continue working together and extend existing partnerships to further drive efficiency measures underway and explore new opportunities.
The need for a comprehensive global policy framework was reiterated throughout the discussions and delegates turned their attention to the ICAO 37th Assembly and the UN climate negotiations, urging states to summon the political will to endorse the industry targets for reducing emissions and establish the necessary global framework to deliver them.
Delegates supported the cross- industry resolution that has been sent to ICAO and will be submitted to the UNFCCC, sending a strong message to Governments concerning global framework approach to manage aviation emissions.
