The business aviation industry is hailing the adoption of a long-term aspirational goal of net-zero aviation emissions by 2050, announced on Friday by governments gathered at the 41st ICAO Assembly. This community has long been aware of the need to become more environmentally conscious and in 2009 issued the "Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change," which detailed four key pillars—technology, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), operational improvements, and market-based measures such as carbon offsets—to achieve emissions-reduction goals.
“The business aviation community has always prioritized measures to enhance the safety and sustainability of flight,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “We welcome this significant step taken by ICAO toward further decarbonization, and we will continue to work with our industry partners toward achieving this ambitious goal.”
The acceptance of the goal by the ICAO member states represents the commitment of the international aviation community to decarbonize.
“This is a significant achievement to have a collective goal across the global civil aviation industry and clear recognition by states of the important role they will play in working to achieve the long-term goal,” said International Business Aviation Council director Kurt Edwards. “The resolution encompasses the four guiding principles that our sector shared before the Assembly, and we are eager to start the real work to achieve this ambitious goal.”
“Achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is an ambitious goal that the aviation industry can reach through strong partnerships with governments and regulators to help accelerate the production, distribution, and use of SAF, as well as investments in research, development, and deployment projects to advance technology and facilitate operational improvements,” added General Aviation Manufacturers Association president and CEO Pete Bunce.