Airbus has called for a summit of chief executives from airframe and engine manufacturers to chart a course for a more environmentally sustainable future for the industry. It is the first move in president and chief executive Louis Gallois’s just-revealed ambitious environmental targets for the company.
He called for the aviation sector, suppliers and governments to share his vision of an eco-efficient aviation industry, saying that no one company holds all the answers. Gallois’ vision is backed by Günter Verheugen, vice-president of the European Commission in charge of enterprise and industry, who has urged industry to act now.
As part of an immediate target, Gallois is calling on the industry to do everything possible to contain CO2 emissions from aviation that today represent around 2% of total man-made emissions.
To help achieve this, Gallois has committed Airbus to embrace an environmental lifecycle approach to operations targeting a 30% reduction in company energy consumption and 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020. He also committed to re-invest savings expected from environmental initiatives back into research into cleaner technologies.
He also committed to a 25% budget increase in research and technology starting in 2008, targeting that by 2020 all new Airbus aircraft entering the market would produce 50% less CO2 and 80% less NOx than levels in 2000.
Airbus will also revisit fuel cell and hydrogen technology to power ground operations at airports. Verheugen says: “Airbus’ commitments will make a positive difference.”
Source: Flight Daily News
