The second annual European Aviation Environmental Report has been released by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The report was compiled in partnership with the European Union Environment Agency (EUEA) and EUROCONTROL, the international organisation governing air traffic management and aviation safety; and was delivered to Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc. It covers the ongoing environmental performance and projected impact of the aviation sector in Europe; and suggested measures to mitigate the industry’s contribution to climate change.
Since 2014, the 2019 European Aviation Environmental Report found, the impact of aviation on the environment has risen by 10 per cent for CO2, 12 per cent for NOx and 14 per cent for noise. CO2 emissions from aircraft are projected to rise by 21 per cent between 2017 and 2040; with the number of flights across Europe expected to increase by 42 per cent in the same period.
EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky said: “We need concrete and effective action to reduce aviation emissions over the next 10 years in order to support the Paris Agreement objectives and mitigate climate change. The aviation sector must play its part in this global effort. Addressing noise and air quality issues at a local level are also critical. Since EASA’s rules and our competencies with regard to environment have been further strengthened by the European Union, EASA now plays a leading role in actively developing and implementing measures to address these challenges in cooperation with our partners.”
The European Aviation Environmental Report identifies a number of current and future endeavours to reduce the industry’s projected effect on climate change, including maintaining and observing industry-wide environmental standards, research and development into greener air travel options; and international cooperation projects working to protect the environment.
Commissioner Bulc said: “As Europeans we must continue to pioneer the battle against climate change. This new report shows that our joint actions are working: we have reduced fuel burn and noise per flight; investments have delivered more efficient technologies; airports are becoming carbon neutral, and finally we are starting to implement the first-ever global scheme to offset CO2 emissions.”
