Monday 5 June 2023

Aviation sector unleashes new 2050 net zero roadmap

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released a new roadmap, detailing how the aviation industry can achieve net zero by 2050.

Technology, finance, policy, energy infrastructure and operations are all key focuses of the strategy.

Developing more efficient engines that are powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is highlighted as a crucial task, as well as advancing the production of SAF and hydrogen to cut the emissions of flights by up to 80%.

IATA has said that $5 trillion (£4.04tn) of investment will be needed to help aviation hit net zero – and developing new technologies will be critical to bringing more money to the sector.

Changing air traffic management, as well as implementing automation and big data are some of the ways that operations can become more efficient, the roadmap states.

Governments and governing bodies are also being called upon to collaborate on policy and frameworks that facilitate lower emissions and a smaller carbon footprint.

Director General at IATA, Willie Walsh, said: “I must emphasise that the roadmaps are not just for airlines. Governments, suppliers and financiers cannot be spectators in aviation’s decarbonisation journey. They have skin in the game. The roadmaps are a call to action for all aviation's stakeholders to deliver the tools needed to make this fundamental transformation of aviation a success.”

Continuing on policy specifically, Chief Economist at IATA, Owens Thomsen, added: “Without the right policy incentives and bold investments, many of the technologies and innovations simply won’t happen at scale.

“Everything is related and that is why we have the five roadmaps to tie all the parallel elements together and give our stakeholders, including governments, a complete understanding of everything that needs to happen.”