Sets Ambitious Targets For CO2 Emissions Reductions
WASHINGTON, DC, November 24, 2009 – The global business aviation operating and manufacturing communities today announced an aggressive strategy to further mitigate the industry’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Presented jointly by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and its member associations, the program is consistent with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) proposal for global aviation sectoral management of targets and monitoring of emissions.
Business aviation has established an excellent record of consistently improving fuel efficiency, delivering 40 percent improvement over the past 40 years. Business aviation’s worldwide carbon emissions are approximately 2% of all aviation and .04% of global man-made carbon emissions. Despite this excellent record, the business aviation community has pledged to do even more by committing to the following specific targets:
- Carbon-neutral growth by 2020;
- An improvement in fuel efficiency of an average of 2 percent per year from today until 2020; and,
- A reduction in total carbon emissions of 50 percent by 2050 relative to 2005.
These aggressive targets are largely based on developments and advancements in four areas: technology, infrastructure and operational improvements, alternative fuels, and market based measures.
“Business aviation manufacturers and operators will put forth a sustained effort to meet these targets, but a strong partnership between industry and government is also absolutely necessary to achieve these goals,” said GAMA President and CEO, Pete Bunce. “We look forward to working hand-in-hand with all stakeholders to meet this critical global challenge of emissions reduction even as we grow to meet expanding demand for transportation.”
Don Spruston, director general of IBAC, added, “Business aviation wants to be an integral part of a comprehensive, ambitious and fair worldwide action to mitigate emissions. As a global industry, we believe that ICAO should be granted sectoral responsibility to develop a simple and straightforward system to address aviation emissions worldwide.”
GAMA and IBAC recognize Steve Ridolfi, president of business aircraft at Bombardier Aerospace, for his leadership of the GAMA Environment Committee and the strong technical support provided by Bombardier during the development of this important initiative.
Please view the attached statement on business aviation and climate change.
About GAMA:
GAMA is an international trade association headquartered in Washington, DC, with a branch office in Brussels, Belgium. GAMA represents 67 of the world’s leading manufacturers of general aviation aircraft, engines, avionics and related equipment. GAMA’s members also operate fleets of aircraft, fixed based operations, and pilot training and maintenance training facilities. For additional information, visit GAMA’s website at www.GAMA.aero.
About IBAC:
The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) is a Council of business aviation associations from around the world, representing the interests of business aircraft operators. It is an International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) with permanent observer status with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UN Specialized Agency for aviation matters. IBAC’s Secretariat is based in the ICAO headquarters building in Montreal Canada. www.ibac.org