Air New Zealand has abandoned its 2030 goal to reduce carbon emissions, citing difficulties in securing more efficient aircraft and sustainable aviation fuel. This makes the airline the first major carrier to step back from such a climate target.
The company stated it is working on a new short-term emissions reduction goal, while remaining committed to the industry-wide aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The aviation sector is estimated to account for around 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and airlines have been attempting to lower these through measures like fleet renewal and the use of renewable fuels.
Air New Zealand's CEO, Greg Foran, acknowledged that delays to the airline's fleet renewal plan have posed additional risks to the achievability of the 2030 target. In 2022, the airline had adopted a much more ambitious 29% emissions reduction goal for 2030, significantly exceeding the global industry's 5% reduction target over the same period.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are a critical part of the sector's emissions reduction strategy, but airlines have struggled to purchase enough of this alternative fuel due to its higher cost and limited production capacity. Industry body IATA stated that while the 2050 net zero goal is achievable, it relies on supportive measures from governments and the scaling up of all available solutions, including SAF and emerging technologies like hydrogen and carbon removal.
Additionally, airlines have been affected by delays in new aircraft deliveries from manufacturers like Boeing, which has faced various issues in recent years, including the aftermath of the 737 Max crashes and the recent incident of a door panel blowing out on one of its planes.
Reference: João d S. (30 Jul, 2024) Air New Zealand Abandons 2030 Emissions Reduction Target, Becoming First Major Airline to Do So
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrjzvep41ro Air NZ becomes first big carrier to drop climate goal
Comments