This month we are watching the 2022 Singapore Airshow very closely. It kicks off with strong optimism for industry recovery and a focus on sustainability. In line with the global agenda on climate change, the Singapore Airshow has partnered with Alton Aviation Consultancy to present the inaugural “Sustainable Aviation Forum”. Experts from public and private sectors will discuss challenges and opportunities within sustainable aviation, including the topic of sustainability of future technology in areas of air mobility and aviation operations. Focus areas include the roles of regulators, innovations in engine technology, sustainable aviation fuel, and maintenance, repair and overhaul. We hope to bring you results and good news from the Singapore Airshow in our next issue. In the meantime here is what happened in the field of sustainable aviation recently.
Policy
Several European companies and industry groups have endorsed the signing of the so-called Toulouse Declaration, marking the first time that European governments, the European Commission, and the aviation industry have formally aligned their aims to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. In a joint statement, Airbus, Air France-KLM, ATR, Dassault Aviation, Groupe ADP, Safran, and Thales confirmed their commitment to a collective approach to address the challenges of a transition to sustainable aviation. They also urged the European Commission to implement the launch of industrial alliances they called critical to aligning “the entire ecosystem around this joint ambition,” particularly the Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels Value Chain Industrial Alliance, the Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation, and the European Raw Materials Alliance. Finally, the companies called for the global adoption of the commitments taken by the European Union.
Airports
Airports Council International has published the brand new Airport Carbon Accreditation Annual Report, covering the period May 2019 to May 2021. The publication marks a welcome resumption of yearly reports showcasing the results and developments in the global carbon standard for airports, Airport Carbon Accreditation, following the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Report points to healthy participation growth across all world regions. By the end of the reporting period, 304 airports were accredited globally, up from 274 airports in the last period, illustrating the extent of the airport industry’s readiness to decarbonise in the toughest of conditions.
Airlines
Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Safran and Singapore Airlines signed a Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel declaration at Singapore Airshow, committing to promote the acceleration of the development, production, and consumption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The Global SAF Declaration calls on industry partners from the aerospace, aviation, and fuel value chains to jointly work towards the uptake of SAF as an important part of decarbonisation with the ambition to ensure a steady ramp up over the next ten years. The Declaration is open to all airlines, as well as aviation and aerospace organisations, as a complement to their sustainability commitments. Singapore Airlines is the first airline to sign the Declaration.
Technology
California-based Wisk Aero has announced a $450-million funding boost from The Boeing Company to further develop its sixth-generation eVTOL aircraft — the model that the company plans to get type-certified with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an autonomous, all-electric, passenger-carrying aircraft. Along with advancing its aircraft, funding will also be used to support the company’s intensive growth over 2022, including preparing to launch scale manufacturing and expanding its team. The announcement is the latest development in Wisk’s journey to becoming what it hopes to be the developer of the industry’s largest fleet of eVTOL aircraft within five years after certification.
Partners
XSignals issued a special edition of its Market Update that provides a statistical summary of 2021, a pivotal year in the evolution of the voluntary carbon market. Carbon credit transactions topped $550M in 2021 as more than 121.5 mtCO2e (tons) were exchanged. 2021 volume was 288% above 2020 levels, and the dollar value exceeded 2020’s total by 23 times. Credits from nearly 270 projects, originating from more than 40 countries, and sourced from the more than 150 project developers that are CBL members, were transacted on the exchange.
Safe travels and stay tuned for more aviation insights during next month’s ‘Sustainability in the Air’.