U.S. aerospace manufacturers pledge to net zero emissions by 2050

U.S. aerospace firms will allegedly double down their efforts towards a climate goal by vowing to attain net-zero emissions by the year 2050, corresponding to a commitment that is to be debated by global airlines in the coming week.

The U.S. Aerospace Industries Association will reportedly pledge to work with governments and airlines to reach the target, joining an expanding aviation industry consensus which also includes airports.

Global airlines are anticipated to vote on an equivalent proposition at the annual meeting of International Air Transport Association in Boston. Air Transport Action Group, an independent coalition of organizations and companies in air transport industry, is also likely to sign up later in the week.

The target replaces the former goal of cutting the emissions to half by 2050 from 2005 levels, similar to the Paris climate agreement to restrict global temperature from rising to 2 degrees Celsius beyond pre-industrial levels in this century.

A U.N. report this year stated there was a 40% chance that in the next five years, global temperatures would reach 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for a short period.

Environmental groups claim that the springing net-zero 2050 target does not have enough scope and needs to be enforced by government action. Aviation accounts for around 3% of global emissions.

Andrew Murphy, aviation director at Brussels-based Transport & Environment, mentioned that Aviation won't achieve the net-zero target by 2050 unless it follows the binding climate laws set at national level.

The commitment involves commercial aviation plane makers like Boeing Co. and suppliers Spirit AeroSystems and Honeywell International. European manufacturer Airbus already stated that it would support the 2050 target.

To assist in achieving the new target, manufacturers have committed to expanding their investments in advanced technologies for more efficient planes, like hybrid jet engines which are likely to enter service over the next decade.

Airlines, aerospace manufacturers, and airports are pushing for government support to augment production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) needed to attain the targets.

 

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