On a Wing and a Dare: Aviation Industry Challenges Rio+20 to Go Greener

About 350 leaders of the aviation industry who met in Geneva, March 21-22, for the Sixth Aviation & Environment Summit, have sent a message—“plane” and simple—to governments worldwide that are due to gather in Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in June.

In a show of unity, the chief executives of 16 global aviation organizations have signed a declaration about the vital role their sector plays in economic expansion and job development—and  have reaffirmed their commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable growth.

Among the signatories represented are the Airports Council International, the International Air Transport Association, the Civil Air Navigation Service Providers Organization, and the CEOs of Airbus, Boeing (News - Alert), ATR, Bombardier, CFM International, Embraer, GE Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce.  

The recipients of the declaration will learn, according to a new study released at the meeting, that more than 56 million jobs worldwide and $2.2 trillion in GDP (gross domestic product) are supported by aviation.

What’s more, of the 56.6 million jobs supported by aviation, there are 8.4 million people directly employed by the sector, 9.3 million jobs at aviation industry suppliers, and 4.4 million jobs created through spending by aviation industry employees. When you account for the part of the tourism sector facilitated by air transport, over 34.5 million jobs are included in this total.

Paul Steele, executive director of the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), the organization coordinating the summit, said, “Sustainable development—and the Rio+20 process—are about finding ways to balance the needs of growing economies and higher standards of living across society, with the need to more carefully manage the resources we are using and the impact that we have on the world.

“In 2008, we were the first global sector to commit to global cross-industry action on climate change,” he noted, adding,” That declaration set the agenda for cooperative action across the aviation industry, to reduce fuel use and emissions. The cooperation between industry partners and the projects underway are impressive. They have led to millions of tons of avoided carbon emissions. Our commitment was taken up by governments and received support from the Secretary General of the United Nations as a path forward for other industries to follow.”

While the group has shown “remarkable commitment” to addressing its environmental footprint, Steele believes that “governments need to step up and help craft the sustainable future we all want.” 

However, he believes that any effort must be well-crafted, in order to avoid “competitive distortions and the diplomatic tensions that we are now seeing because of the European Emission Trading Scheme.”  

He warned, “We will be the ones stuck in the middle of a trade war and that will help no-one. Let’s ensure that governments get around the table at ICAO and build a truly global scheme that will incentivize efficiency, be acceptable to all … and – most importantly – actually reduce emissions.”

The declaration was signed on the final day of the summit.