The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) have joined with the global aviation community in welcoming the adoption of a long term goal for international aviation of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, by governments gathered for the 41st International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal, Canada.

“The business aviation community has always prioritised measures to enhance the safety and sustainability of flight,” says NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “We welcome this significant step taken by ICAO toward further decarbonisation, and we will continue to work with our industry partners toward achieving this ambitious goal.”

The decision sends an important signal of the resolve of the international aviation community to decarbonise.

IBAC director general Kurt Edwards says: “This is a significant achievement to have a collective goal across the global civil aviation industry and clear recognition by states of the important role they will play in working to achieve the long-term goal. The resolution encompasses the four guiding principles that our sector shared prior to the Assembly, and we are eager to start the real work to achieve this ambitious goal, including collaborating with governments and stakeholders to decarbonise the industry.”

“We commend the ICAO Assembly for its prioritisation of carbon emission-reduction goals and standards. Achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is an ambitious goal that the aviation industry can reach through strong partnerships with governments and regulators to help accelerate the production, distribution and use of SAF as well as investments in research, development and deployment projects to advance technology and facilitate operational improvements. General and business aviation manufacturers are committed to working with ICAO to reach our net-zero goal as outlined in the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change and to support the future of our industry and its societal and economic benefits,” adds GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce.

The global business aviation community has long been mindful of the need to mitigate its impacts on the environment. The sector is known for its innovative, cutting-edge technologies that allow aircraft to fly more efficiently and cleanly. In 2009, the industry issued the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change (BACCC) outlining its climate-action efforts through a combination of measures: technology, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), operational improvements and modernised infrastructure, and market-based measures (MBMs), such as offsetting. Committing to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 means that the use of each of these becomes more important. Analyses indicate, however, that meeting this new goal will require an aggressive shift in aircraft innovation and an immense increase in SAF production and availability.