The UK’s aviation industry announced on Tuesday its commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The move comes as climate activists call for the climate crisis to be considered with great urgency.
Activists such as Greta Thunberg have been campaigning for climate justice, with the aim to encourage nations to limit their actions which are damaging to the environment.
On Tuesday, members of the UK Sustainable Aviation coalition agreed to commit to cutting carbon emissions to zero by the year 2050.
“The fight against climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the modern world, but the aviation sector’s commitment today is a huge step forward in creating a greener future,” Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport, said.
Plans published by Sustainable Aviation show exactly where reductions can come from.
Indeed, reductions can be achieved through smarter flight operations, new aircraft and engine technology, the modernisation of UK airspace, the use of sustainable aviation fuels, and high-quality market-based policy measures, according to Sustainable Aviation.
These measures will allow the UK to increase passenger numbers in line with current projections, whilst simultaneously reducing net emissions from 30 million tonnes of CO2 per year to zero.
“Climate change is a clear and pressing issue for people, businesses and governments across the world,” Neil Robinson, Chair of Sustainable Aviation, provided a comment.
“We know aviation emissions will increase if decisive action is not taken, and that’s why UK aviation today commits to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, through an international approach, working with governments around the world and through the UN,” Neil Robinson continued.
Neil Robinson said: “The UK is well positioned to become one of the leaders in the green technologies of the future, including sustainable aviation fuels and electric flight, creating highly-skilled and well-paid jobs in the process, and we look forward to working in partnership with Ministers to help realise these opportunities.”
Elsewhere in climate related news, the CEO of BlackRock spoke to Bloomberg at the end of January about how climate change could become a risk to investors.