Aviation and the Environment - Case Study Example

AVIATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT Air transport is a main agent of growth important for trade and a main global employer. Nearly fifty seven million jobs and two point two trillion jobs in the world are supported by aviation. Over thirty five percent of the global trade values air travel and industries in most countries relies on the speed and efficiency of air travel to provide goods and services required in the modern life1. Over half of tourist uses air to travel to reach their destination and provides important lifelines to small islands and remote communities all over the world. With its benefits, arises its environmental impact. Last year, aviation industry led to an emission of six hundred and seventy six million tons of carbon dioxide that is two percent of the world total2. Aviation sector recognizes the increasing awareness and urgency in addressing global challenges due to climate change and puts emphasize on the important role it plays in sustaining development and should remain safe, accessible and affordable in ensuring mobility of equitable basis in all areas in the society. Aviation global employment and GDP impact In October 2010, government of International Civil Aviation Organization got into a global agreement in addressing international aviation emissions and formed targets and principles on economic measures while taking into consideration the needs the needs of developed and developing countries. Since then, the International Aviation Organization has made progress in various areas by bringing together Industry, States and civil society representatives. The progress made includes Aircraft carbon standard. This area is finding a formula for accessing the efficiency of aircraft while finding the most perfect standards to be put into consideration3. The second progress is the Market–based measures (MBMs) for aviation. Significant progress in identifying the potential MBM framework in dealing with aviation emission has been formed in addition to the three mechanisms, which include carbon offsetting mechanism with a global emission trading scheme and revenue component. And lastly is the state of action plans which entails the minimum global shares to document plans in regards to actions being undertaken to decrease emissions from the aviation sector4. Challenges in meeting the targets and achievements met The aviation industry is very supportive of those processes and is helping actively where required. The industry hopes that most of those actions are finalized in spite of the political challenges facing most of the countries. COP18 in Doha generates a chance to capitalize on the success and work being done by ICAO in supporting the processes and strengthening cooperation between the aviation sector and the government to jointly deal with the challenges of the climate change. Carbon-Neutral Growth to be achieved from 2020. In 2008, manufacturers, airlines, air navigation service providers and airport met in Geneva and signed a commitment on a pathway to carbon –neutral yield. In the period between 2010 and 2020 the aviation sector is committed to improving its fuel efficiency by a rate of 1.5% per year, which represents a further efficiency gain of 17% by the year 2020that is 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide savings. The commitment re-affirmation and expansion in the industry sustainable growth was signed in 2020 by the Aviation and Environment Summit and a copy is found in this position document. The Carbon-neutral growth (CNG2020) shows that carbon dioxide emission from aviation industry would raise in 2020 stabilize and then reduce after that as it accommodates air transport demands. The industry is working towards halving carbon dioxide net emissions by 2020 in relation to 2005 emission. The aviation industry is determined to be part of solving the problem, but insists it cannot be held responsible for excess emissions rather than what it emits5. To achieve the targets laid down, a multi-faceted approach is required with a strong commitment from all stakeholders of the aviation. This includes aircraft operators, fuel suppliers, air navigation service providers, manufacturers, airports and governments working together to meet the four pillar strategy. Importance of the Four Pillar Strategy Technology Of the four strategies, technology is the best option for reducing aviation emissions. The industry is making great improvement in technology like new radical engines, revolutionary new aircraft designs, development of an efficient jet fuel that reduces carbon dioxide emissions by eighty percent on the basis of full carbon life-cycle and new composite lightweight material of the planes. The sector mainly focuses on biofuels from second generation sources like algae, waste biomass and non-food crops. The fuels can be produced adequately to reduce impacts on fresh water usage and food crops. Over one thousand and five hundred passengers have shown that the usage of biofuels from those sources as a decrease in fuels is technically safe and sound. Biofuels can be mixed with the existing jet fuel to raise it quantity as it becomes more available. Improved operational practices include use of the reduced auxiliary power unit, use of weight reduction measures and more efficient flight procedures in reducing carbon dioxide procedures. Infrastructure development is another opportunity to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Initial estimates indicate twelve percent of inefficiency in global space transportation infrastructure. Since then, four percent efficiencies have been achieved6. Full implementation of airport infrastructure and efficient air traffic management could provide a considerable emission reduction by implementing measures like Next Generation air traffic and Single European Sky management system in the USA. As the three pillars are being used to achieve emission reduction goals for carbon neutral growth from 2020, a fourth pillar dealing with smart economic measures is needed in the aviation sector. A global Approach for Aviation Aviation is an important global activity. It provides connections of a network of air services covering the entire world with aircraft emissions while crossing national jurisdictions and continents on a daily basis. Flights within a country boundary can have international implications since domestic flights mostly serve as important feeders for international networks. To avoid problems of overlapping and conflicting with regional and national policies, a method of addressing carbon dioxide emissions from aircraft is being formed at a global level. Aviation is a homogeneous sector in terms of efficiency levels and technology, though it highly competitive characterized by thin revenue margins, low entry barriers and high exposure to external shocks. Policy measures used in other sectors are mostly not applicable in the aviation sector. The aviation sector has challenging characteristics in developing a mechanism to reduce emission than any other fossil using sector, but it has marked unparalleled in the efficiency improvement of carbon dioxide. The most effective method of addressing international aviation emissions is through a collaborative action of all states through a global approach of the International Civil Aviation Organization. For this approach to work effectively, all parts of the aviation circle need to reduce or limit carbon dioxide emission. Finally, the government has a responsibility of establishing the right fiscal and legal framework in facilitating and increasing investment in cost-effective measures of reducing carbon dioxide emissions that involves new aircraft and engine technologies, more efficient infrastructures and air traffic management and low carbon sustainable jet fuels to enable full and unrestricted access to the aviation sector in the global carbon market and usage of available alleviation measures in the outer sector. Proposed Targets and Guiding Principles ICAO is the right United Nations body for forming and administering standards and targets of aviation in addressing greenhouse gas emissions. In regards to 2010 ICAO Assembly Resolution, The aviation sector asks the government to support the ICAO in developing and implementing the agreement set. Its works should focus on the following guiding principles and targets: Targets-In connection with the aspired goals discussed in ICAO, a target to stabilize carbon dioxide emission this is carbon-neutral growth, technology advances and infrastructure achieved by government and industry should be used. A long-term goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by fifty percent in 2050 in comparison to 2005 levels should be set. Accounting for Aviation Emission Accountability of carbon dioxide emission is taken for once in a global inventory sector. It is based either from either domestic or international activities. Fair competition is required between aircrafts using the same routes. Individual carrier responsibilities Responsibility to meet collective industry 2020 targets needs carriers to take early action in maturity of the aviation sector and the special requirement of developing countries. Each carrier has its own option to decide on the measures to use in reducing its carbon dioxide emission and meet its targets which involves operational improvements, fleet renewal, retrofits, sustainable alternative fuels and certified carbon credits in trading allowances got from carbon markets. Geographic coverage- This is as a result of global and interconnected nature of air transport. The government is encouraged to apply parameters of global framework in both international and domestic emission without distinction. Interdependencies Measures- The main carbon dioxide abatement chances in the aviation sector involves implementation of new technologies which involves low fuel burn aircraft, new engine technologies, and reduced life-cycle of carbon dioxide emissions, improved operational efficiency and air management processes and systems. Reducing flight path lengths and changing preferred usage runway near the airport can help reduce noise managements. In formulating ways of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, such considerations should be put into place. Whatever measure used should be economically reasonable, technologically feasible environmentally beneficial and socially responsible. Use of carbon market instrument For a global method, aviation needs an appropriate open architecture to have unlimited access to carbon market instrument in order to meet is obligation and be a head with other sectors. Cost-effective economic measures Economic measures to address the issue of carbon dioxide emission in the aviation sector needs to be cost effective and not duplicable to reduce market distortion. The measures formed by ICAO needs to be transparent, simple and formed on simple consensus. They should provide an open accessibility to carbon market and identify the past and future investment and achievement in aviation fuel efficiency and other ways to minimize aviation emissions. The aviation sector states that the economic measures should not put inappropriate economic stress on aviation. Charges, levies and taxes targeted to air transport undermine the aviation sector and are severely environmental ineffective making it difficult to invest in carbon reduction technology, infrastructure and operations measures. Use of Revenue Any eventual income from economic balances under the world network to deal with aviation problems should deal with environmental and aviation purposes. Such revenue should be used for re-investment and improving aviation emission by supporting development and deployment of more fuel-efficient engines, infrastructure, aircraft, low carbon jet fuels, engines and investing in technologies of air traffic management. In addition, part of that revenue should be put aside for carbon projects within the aviation sector. Possible ways of controlling emission The international global sector recommends Aircraft carbon dioxide emission should be dealt with in the post 2020 global climate change agreement organized by International Civil Aviation Organization7. Aviation emissions should be dealt with by ICAO using a comprehensive approach that does not change competition among aircraft operators and treats aviation as an indivisible factor. Aviation emissions needs to be accounted for in dedicated global inventory emission to reliably make track progress on industry target and avoid double counting to ensure reductions of emissions are paid for only once. The aviation sector can reach the 2020 carbon neutral growth by reducing carbon emission by fifty percent in 2050 in comparison to 2050levels. The targets are possible if the government provides support in modernizing air traffic management, commercializing sustainable befouls, developing aerodynamic and operations technology through research and lastly, developing multilateral market–based method to alleviate international emissions and avoid proliferation of existing unilateral improper measures8. Unilateral Response Measures are not important or useful The safe, efficient and orderly functioning of the current international air transport system mainly depends on the obviously agreed rules, standards and regulation. Using unilateral measures to regulate foreign operators without the permission of the government is abuse of this foundation. This puts the aviation sector at risk of being entangled in a costly, uncoordinated, ineffective and counter measure that benefits no one but harms environment and economies everywhere. The goals and achievement of Aviation sector to date Leaders of aviation sector signed a Declaration in 2008 committing themselves to the work of climate change. Since then, the company has set ambitious goals to implement and meet the initiative. The sector has delivered short-term goals on fuel efficiency by 1.5% per year improving to 2020 vision of meting its long-term commitments The undersigned aviation organizations and industry companies broadens the commitment of advancing and strengthening interdependent pillars in sustaining economic, environmental and social development. At the local, regional, national and global levels, the company will continue to provide; an air transport sector that is a main socio-economic contributor to the global economy and a catalyst for growth and building connectivity to enhance tourism, personal opportunity, trade and mobility to all people everywhere. It will also provide high paying valuable jobs, innovative partnership with other communities that serves in the investment skills and training while maintaining a high degree of investment in development and research around the world. Lastly, depict environmental leadership by acting on goals of aircraft carbon reduction 2020 and work to achieve the target goal of fifty percent carbon emission by 2050 compared to 2005. Aviation Sector Request to the government Worldwide Aviation sector is one of the most regulated sectors worldwide and it cannot deliver benefits on its own. It commits itself to show leadership and work together with the government to pursue a common goal in term of sustainable development and economic prosperity through: Continued investment in international collaborative research and academic for implementation and development of new operational practices and green technologies9. Urgent actions in advancing highly effective air traffic control volume. Encouraging use of other sources of renewable energy by giving appropriate incentives and policies to facilitate cost-effective, timely and sustainable development of aviation befouls. Continuing to develop sustainable airport infrastructure to meet future demands of aviation services within the area of economic, environmental and social needs of the society. Providing positive regulatory area that encourages development of aviation as one of the wide government economic growth policy managed across national borders10. Lastly, asking the government to get into an agreement with the International Civil Aviation for a global network in reducing carbon dioxide emission from aircraft by use of advanced technologies, infrastructure and efficient operation and use of global multilateral market-based measures to deal with any remaining space. The commitments of work in the in the aviation sector with partnership with government, civil society and other industries will see an effective aviation sector meeting all its needs and providing the services required by the global economy. Political barriers based on PESTLE analysis over Europe and US different emission control Analysis of if IATA will meet its target and Barrier to meeting it target Air travel is one of the fastest growing industries in the world emitting greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide that leads to climate change. Worldwide, commercial jet aircraft produces over seven hundred million tons of carbon dioxide. IATA shows that there was increase in production of carbon dioxide in 2010 compared by 2009. It will be quite challenging for the IATA to meet its target since every year the number of people flying globally is increasing. Over the next fifteen years the global aviation industry growth rate will be four percent every year. This means expansion in airports will lead to more flight and hence increase in pollution in the environment. In addition this will lead to overcrowding in airspaces. Bibliographies Chirstoph, Alexader. 2013. Aviationstrategy: firstreport of session 2013-14. Vol. 2, Vol. 2. London: Stationery Office. Albers, Sascha, Stefan Auerbach, Herbert Baum, and Werner Demand. 2008. Strategic management in the aviation industry. Aldershot: Ashgate. Cento, Alessandro. 2009. The airline industry challenges in the 21st century. Heidelberg: Physica-Verl. Senguttuvan, P. S. 2012.Fundamentals of air transport management. New Delhi: Excel Books. Price, Jeffrey and Jeffrey, Forrest. 2013. Practical Aviation Security Predicting and Preventing Future Threats. Oxford: Elsevier Science. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=1107824. MacKenzie, David. 2010. ICAO: a history of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Wensveen, J. G., and Alexander T. Wells. 2008. Air transportation: a management perspective. Aldershot, England: Ashgate. Belobaba, Peter, Amedeo Odoni, and Cynthia Barnhart. 2009. The Global Airline Industry. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=427964. Weinstein, Ruth J. 2009. The Aviation industry: currentperspectivesandproblems. New York: Practising Law Institute. Read More