News: Air Transport Industry calls for joint effort on climate change
Flights > News > # 284 (18/03/2005)
For the first time ever, over 300 global aviation leaders and experts representing all industry disciplines, have come together to discuss ways to further improve the industry’s environmental performance.
The inaugural Aviation & Environment Summit co-organised under the umbrella of the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) – with Airports Council International (ACI), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Coordinating Council for the Aerospace Industries Association (ICCAIA) – provided a unique opportunity for airlines, airports, air navigation services providers and manufacturers to jointly define recommendations to ensure a fair balance between economic benefits, social development and environmental responsibility.
According to Philippe Rochat, Executive Director of ATAG:
“Air transport makes a unique contribution to the development of our global society. It facilitates trade and tourism, brings people and cultures together and sustains millions of jobs all around the world.
Working together is the best way for the air transport industry to continue to serve society and simultaneously minimise its environmental impact”.
Building on its environmental record, which includes a 70% reduction in noise emissions during the past 40 years, the aviation industry reaffirmed its commitment to work in partnership to:
-
Further develop and use new technologies and operational procedures aimed at minimising noise, fuel consumption and emissions;
-
Share and voluntarily apply best environmental practices; and
-
Establish and build constructive dialogues with local communities and authorities around airports to ensure that their needs and expectations are duly taken into consideration.
Summit participants also urged governments to actively contribute to industry efforts and commitments by:
-
Adopting and implementing effective land-use management policies in the vicinity of airports;
-
Working with airports and air navigation service providers to ensure environmentally- responsible airport expansion and air route efficiency; and
-
Continuing to work through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to develop effective and efficient policies to address the environmental impacts of aviation.
Plans are already underway to hold the second Summit in March 2006.
Add to:
Related Articles:
Comment:
This conference is an extremely important step forward for the aviation industry in terms of waking up to the environmental concerns which are caused by flying.
Whilst it is certainly true to say that technology improvements have brought about
