ADS Statement on CCC Letter to Business Secretary on Carbon Emissions and Aviation
The Committee on Climate Change today published its letter to Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom on carbon emissions from aviation.
Responding to publication of the letter, ADS Chief Executive Paul Everitt said:
“The UK aerospace industry recognises its responsibility to cut the environmental impact of flying and is committed to playing its part in achieving the net zero target.
“To reduce global CO2 emissions, aviation companies are investing heavily in improvements to current technology, sustainable aviation fuels, and radical new aircraft and propulsion technologies.
“This is a global issue. Industry and government must work closely together to make sure international regulatory approaches work effectively and investment is attracted into the UK for our world-leading aerospace industry to develop the next generation of clean aerospace technology.”
The UK aerospace sector has invested £22bn in green technology R&D since 2005. In that time, UK demand for flights has risen 28 per cent, while emissions from aviation have fallen 3.5 per cent.
Successful long-term industrial strategy programmes like the Aerospace Technology Institute are supporting development of advanced green technology here in the UK, while the recently launched Future Flight Challenge sees £125m investment by the Government matched by £175m from industry.
Each generation of aircraft is around 20 per cent more efficient than the last, while fuel efficiency has improved 1.5 per cent a year since 2009 as improved technology is introduced on new aircraft and airline fleets are updated.