AEA, the Association of European Airlines, and AECMA, the European Association of Aerospace Industries, have agreed a joint approach on the reduction of CO2 emissions. In their statement, the two associations assess the aviation industry's anticipated achievements in the context of the Kyoto Protocol requirements and their proposed strategy for the further reduction of CO2 emissions.
Last week, the AEA and AECMA forwarded their "Joint Statement on the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Aviation" to the Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Transport, Ms Loyola de Palacio. This was in response to the recent Communication from the European Commission, in which it reinforced its objective to reduce the long-term environmental impact of aviation.
The Kyoto Protocol on climate change defines targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases of which CO2 constitutes the main part to be achieved within the period between 2008 and 2012. The joint approach proposed by AEA and AECMA contains the following key statements: **Within the Kyoto timeframe, AECMA will fully support the efforts of AEA to further improve the fuel efficiency (by 22.4% with respect to 1990 levels), and thus the CO2 emissions performance of its fleet, through the introduction of technology improvements in new aircraft delivered. **AECMA will vigorously pursue its research activities under the European Commissions 5th Framework Programme for Research and Technology Development in order to deliver targeted technology improvements for the next generation of aircraft. **AEA and AECMA will continue their proactive participation in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) environmental programme. In particular, they will seek to achieve international agreement for a global CO2 reduction scheme for aviation. **AEA and AECMA recognise the interest of the European Commission and of ICAO in the possible control and reduction of CO2 emissions through voluntary agreements. **AEA and AECMA are resolved to maintain their record of achievement in contributing to emissions reduction, despite the continuing growth in public demand for air travel.
Over the past 30 years the aviation industry has already achieved significant fuel reductions, and hence CO2 emissions, through the continuous development of new technology and its systematic incorporation into products for use by the airlines. At present, aviation contributes only a small proportion of the total man-made CO2 emissions, but as the demand for air travel is growing continuously, this contribution is expected to increase.
The major European scheduled airlines belonging to the AEA have undertaken a considerable aircraft renewal programme in recent years. This will be continued and will bring about an estimated reduction of 22.4% in fuel consumption per passenger-km for AEA airlines in 2012 (compared with its 1990 level). The AEA members already have one of the youngest combined fleets in the world.
The European aerospace manufacturers within the membership of AECMA are continuing to develop the technology needed to provide better fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions for the next generation of civil aircraft. This will at the same time be balanced against other greenhouse gases. The Aeronautics Programme under the 5th Framework Programme of the European Commission aims to develop technology that will enable to reduce CO2 emissions by 15-20% by 2015.
