Environment
A greener way of flying
From international summits to pledges by individual companies, the fi ght against climate change is impossible to avoid. This is increasingly true when it comes to aviation, with so-called ‘sustainable aviation fuels’ (SAFs) coming under increased scrutiny over cost issues and questions around their genuine environmental impact. Andrea Valentino talks to Stefan Häberlein at Munich Airport, and Andrew Murphy at Transport and Environment, to learn more.
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illed as our ‘last best hope’ against the catastrophes of climate change, the delegates came, hoping to finally save our planet. By the time they had left the Victorian grandeur of Glasgow, almost two weeks later, COP26 had certainly resulted in some lofty statements – from wishing farewell to coal power to pledging $12bn against deforestation. And as it went for the Amazon, so too for aviation. Promising more efficient operators, COP26’s representatives also announced engine manufacturers would now be prodded towards reaching net-zero too. As Pete Buttigieg, the US transportation secretary, put it: “We are accelerating our action and commitments.” All this sounds spectacular in theory, but what does it actually mean in practice? Like so much else at COP26, this is by no means a worthless question. After all, short of dusting off the world’s ocean liners, people still need to get around by plane. Considering aviation contributes around 2.5% of global carbon emissions –
Future Airport /
www.futureairport.com
which may not sound like much, but is close to all of Africa’s – urgent action is clearly needed. It is fortunate, then, that delegates in November 2021 also promoted the potential of so-called ‘sustainable aviation fuels’ (SAFs). Rather than being refined from traditional petroleum, SAFs instead rely on sustainable resources. More to the point, they hint at a world where the world’s aircraft can still soar without their passengers needing to feel any guilt. Not, of course, that the path to a green future is necessarily straightforward. From high costs to supply issues, SAF evangelists – to say nothing of airports themselves – have plenty of work to do. That is even true when it comes to the ultimate efficacy of these fuels: they may be far better for the planet than fossil- based alternatives, but SAFs nonetheless come with a number of environmental handicaps. However, by liaising closely with fuel manufacturers, and building close relationships with airlines, staff are nonetheless
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