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Environment
Implement an ambitious policy for managing emissions
AEA recognises that the airline industry must take responsibility for its environmental impacts and drive a balance between these and the social and economic benefits it provides. In this context, the airlines’ contribution to man-made greenhouse gas emissions has been widely misrepresented. Globally, airlines emit just 2% of man-made CO2. In no individual region of the world – be it the EU, the USA, or the developing economies of the Far East – does the aviation sector, in isolation, make any significant contribution to global warming. If all aircraft of European airlines were to be grounded, the reduction of global CO2 would be 0.5%.
Consequently, regional solutions to aviation emissions can make no substantial contribution to mitigating worldwide CO2 emissions. They can, however, have a major impact on the prosperity of that region’s airlines, on jobs and competitiveness.
Nonetheless, reducing aviation’s environmental impact has become a key priority of this sector. Airlines across the world have contributed to reducing CO2 emissions by, inter alia:
- Promoting the development of, and investing in, state-of-the art aircraft and engines with significantly reduced levels of kerosene consumption per passenger;
- Deploying operational measures to reduce fuel consumption in flight
- Supporting sensible, globally applicable regulatory measures for the sector.
AEA joins other industry stakeholders in supporting the initiative unveiled at the 2009 IATA AGM, in the form of a commitment by airlines worldwide to sustain an emissions efficiency improvement of 1.5% per year between 2010 and 2020, to achieve carbon-neutral growth from 2020 onwards, and to realise a reduction of 50% in emissions by 2050.
AEA calls upon European governments and EU institutions to support a global, sectoral, market-based mechanism, which would replace regional measures. Governments must continue to promote research and development of technology and infrastructure improvements. 
