Industry Passengers want governments to focus on sustainable fuels to cut carbon

A proposal for an EU-wide tax on air tickets has been forwarded by the IATA to European Governments, said the organization. The Dutch proposal is based on researches made by IATA, which show that passengers want governments to encourage the development of sustainable fuels.

Ultimately, the citizens want to cut carbon with new technologies and bettered sustainable fuels. The aviation industry belongs to the most environmentally unfriendly industries in the world.

Commercial aviation is responsible for around 2% of annual global carbon emissions, said IATA in a statement. The target of the industry is it, to cut emissions in half by 2050. This goal was set up in accordance to the Paris climate agreement, which sees to limit the global warming to between 1.5 and 2 degrees.

Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO said: “Aviation takes the climate change challenge very seriously. For more than a decade we have set and exceeded tough targets for carbon emissions, and we plan to achieve much more. Public opinion has a clear message to governments: work with aviation to encourage investment in clean fuels, and new hybrid and electric technology. This will help airlines cut emissions in half by 2050.”

A survey has been developed by the IATA and according to that, the most preferred actions for governments to prioritize for managing aviation´s climate change impacts are to support the development of new sustainable aviation fuels and to support research and development for better operations. IATA stated, that in contrast environmental taxes were one of the least popular options.

De Juniac added: “Airlines have spent billions on new planes that have helped to cut emissions per passenger in half since 1990. From next year we will cap emissions in a global offsetting scheme that will generate $40 billion of climate financing. And airlines have bought up all the sustainable aviation fuel that is available. Governments should listen to their citizens. The way forward for aviation and the environment is sustainable aviation fuels. Promoting their commercialization will do more than any tax.”

The IATA represents approximately 290 airlines comprising 82% of the global air traffic. The organization therefore sees its responsibility to act in favour of both citizens and governments. Over the course of the climate change, the IATA develops itself to become an essential link between the people and the industry.