Flightpath: Navigating the pathway to sustainable aviation
Aviation is vital. It enables immense progress for people and business. While the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry have been real and painful, that hasn’t changed the reality that aviation faces a daunting task: How to fly and emit less. The aviation industry is on its way to returning to the skies, and part of that return must include reducing its contribution to climate change. The current options are limited and complex, but with urgent action and collaboration from multiple stakeholders and consumer demand for sustainable aviation still strong, significant reductions in aviation emissions are possible.
Shell Aviation advocates a three-tiered carbon-management approach to reducing CO2 emissions:
- Avoid emissions: By adopting new technologies and achieving operational efficiencies that eliminate CO2 output, particularly on the ground
- Reduce emissions: Through the use of sustainable aviation fuel
- Offset emissions: By using high quality nature-based carbon credits to compensate for emissions
1 https://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2018-10-24-02.aspx
2 https://www.iea.org/commentaries/are-aviation-biofuels-ready-for-take-off
WATCH: Introducing "Flightpath" – meet our host, Joel Makower
Joel Makower: Introduction to Flightpath
Description:
Introduction to Flightpath with Joel Makower
Title: Joel Introduction Transcript
Duration: 1:03 minutes
[Background music plays]
Bright, uplifting music
[Joel Makower]
I’m Joel Makower. I’ve been analyzing sustainable business practices for the past 30 years, including in the aviation industry.
While the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry have been real and painful, that hasn’t changed the reality that aviation faces a daunting task: How to fly and emit less.
Aviation enables immense progress for people and society. And as aviation looks to recover, societal demand to tackle climate change are stronger than ever. The solutions can be complex, but with urgent action and collaboration among multiple stakeholders, significant emissions reductions are possible.
In this conversation series, I’ll be talking to experts about their views on how the aviation industry can continue pursuing environmental sustainability as it returns to prosperity.
Please tune in to find out what it will take to make aviation sustainable — and sign up for the latest perspectives by clicking on the link below.
Watch: Nature’s role in tackling aviation emissions
Airlines are feeling pressure to curb CO2 emissions today. Until sustainable fuel and technology solutions are deployed to help avoid and reduce emissions directly, the industry will also need comprehensive carbon offset programmes if it is to meet its net emissions reduction targets. The Nature Conservancy’s Chris Webb points to airlines’ opportunity to benefit from the most effective carbon sink “technology” available today: nature itself.
Watch: What will it take to scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel?
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the aviation industry hard. But as airlines chart a path to recovery, part of their return must include reducing the industry’s contribution to climate change. Bryan Sherbacow, Chief Commercial Officer of biofuel producer World Energy, discusses what it will take to help sustainable aviation fuel scale to the point where it will be competitive with conventional jet fuel.
Watch: How Can Aviation Usher in a “Low Emissions Age”?
The aviation industry is running out of time to deploy carbon-mitigation tools, such as sustainable aviation fuel, and consumers are increasingly demanding that airlines take action today. David Hone, Shell’s top climate adviser has warned that the short window in which to act poses a risk that the sector will fail to hit its goal to halve CO2 emissions by 2050 relative to 2005.
Is turning to nature the answer to cleaner skies?
When CO2 emissions can’t be avoided, offsets can reduce the impact. But not all offsets are created equal. Nature-based solutions show promising potential.
Questions? Need more information? Contact us.
Get more information about Shell Aviation, the future of sustainable flying and how we can help make this happen for your organization. Tell us a little about you and we’ll get in touch.