Toronto, 25 September 2012 – The Canadian Government was urged to boost investment in green aerospace research and development today by Paul Steele, Executive Director of the Geneva-based Air Transport Action Group, a global association representing the commercial aviation industry on sustainability issues.

Speaking at the second annual meeting of the Canadian Green Aviation Research and Development Network (GARDN), Mr Steele said, “The Canadian aerospace industry is one of the strongest in the world. Aerospace manufacturers and their supply chain provide 81,000 skilled jobs directly and support over 110,000 jobs and C$13.1 billion in total. A vital component of the future growth of this sector – and its ability to help support the Canadian economy – is the supply of well-trained engineering graduates and innovative aerospace research.”

When the whole air transport system is included (airports, airlines, air traffic control and tourism supported by air travel), the aviation industry supports over 450,000 Canadian jobs and C$42.4 billion (or 2.8%) of gross domestic product.

“In March this year, global leaders of the aviation industry signed a declaration on the future of sustainable aviation (http://www.aviationbenefitsbeyondborders.org). The first request to governments in the declaration was to continue to support collaborative research into new green aviation technologies and operations. The GARDN project is Canada’s contribution to this effort and the projects it is undertaking such as the environmentally-focused regional jet will play a valuable role in helping to reduce aviation’s environmental footprint.”

Worldwide, aviation currently accounts for around two percent of global man-made carbon dioxide emissions. The global aviation industry has agreed a set of ambitious targets to reduce its CO2 output. It will cap its net CO2 from 2020 and halve them by 2050, based on 2005 levels.

“To achieve these targets, we need all parts of the industry working on fuel saving measures. Collaboration is key. Projects like GARDN, which bring together government, research institutions and industry to jointly develop new environmentally-targeted technologies are vital to this global effort. Governments around the world are undertaking such collaborative research to support their aviation industries. It’s a wise investment in the future strength of Canadian aerospace and the benefits this brings to the wider national economy.”

In April, the GARDN network assisted with the first Canadian flight on sustainable aviation biofuels, with partners Porter Airlines and Bombardier. Since then, Air Canada has undertaken the first North American international ‘prefect flight’ incorporating biofuels and other emissions-saving methods on a flight which reduced the CO2 emitted by 40% compared to a normal flight.

About ATAG 
The Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) is a highly respected not-for-profit association that represents all sectors of the air transport industry.

Montréal, 18 June 2012 – The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, www.icao.int) launched today “Flightpath to a Sustainable Future”, an ICAO special Rio+20 global initiative consisting of the first-ever series of connecting flights powered by sustainable alternative fuels, on which ICAO Secretary General, Mr. Raymond Benjamin, will travel from Montréal to Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, known as Rio+20.
 
Organized in close cooperation with numerous industry stakeholders, these flights will be some of the greenest to operate.  On his way to Rio+20, Mr. Benjamin will travel via Toronto, Mexico City and São Paulo, on flights with Porter Airlines, Air Canada, Aeroméxico and GOL. The flights, which will operate using various blends of sustainable aviation biofuel, will also involve the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers, including Bombardier, Airbus and Boeing.  The initiative will be complemented by the first Azul Airlines and Embraer biofuel test flight using a sugar cane blend and a biofuel flight from Europe.
 
“This is truly a world-first series of flights,” said ICAO Secretary General Benjamin, “and one which demonstrates that the whole air transport sector is working together to make significant advances across a range of sustainability issues, so that it can continue to fulfill its role as a catalyst for economic and social development, while reducing its impact on the environment.”

“Such a collaborative enterprise showcases in a concrete manner that sustainable biofuels are now a reality.  From camelina to used cooking oil or jatropha, advanced alternative fuels help save significant amounts of CO₂ emissions while not competing for land or water with food crops,” also stated the President of the ICAO Council, Mr. Roberto Kobeh González.
 
The flights will also carry a message from the aviation industry itself as the ATAG Aviation & Environment Summit’s Declaration will be delivered to leaders at Rio+20(www.aviationbenefits.org/our-commitment).  Signed by the heads of associations representing the world’s airports, airlines, air navigation service providers and manufacturers, the declaration reiterates the air transport sector’s commitment to environmental responsibility while ensuring that it can continue to bring enormous benefits to communities and economies around the globe.
 
Paul Steele, Executive Director of the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG, www.atag.org), a group representing the global aviation sector, emphasized that “aviation is a key enabler of economic growth and social development which currently supports 56.6 million jobs and over $2.2 trillion of global GDP.  Our sector has a strong track record of fuel efficiency and CO₂ emissions savings working collaboratively as today’s flights are demonstrating. But we also need governments to step up and help craft the sustainable future we all want. Support for research and development of new technologies, sustainable biofuels for aviation and much-needed improvements in infrastructure are vital for aviation to be able to continue its positive role while minimizing its environmental impact.”
 
The industry declaration and further information about the social and economic benefits of aviation can be downloaded from www.aviationbenefitsbeyondborders.org.
 
Airlines received approval to fly on biofuels in June 2011. While there are very small quantities of sustainable aviation biofuel available to airlines today, it is hoped that with the right government assistance, producers will be able to deliver the quantities needed at a price comparable to traditional jet fuel while continuing to meet sustainability criteria.
 
The series of flights will arrive in Rio de Janeiro tomorrow, Tuesday 19 June, for the Rio+20 aviation day, just ahead of the high-level session for heads of government delegations.

Geneva, 21 March 2012 – Over 56 million jobs worldwide and $2.2 trillion in GDP are supported by aviation, according to a new report released today at the global Aviation & Environment Summit in Geneva. The report, Aviation: benefits beyond borders, was produced by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) and Oxford Economics. It outlines an industry that plays a larger role in the global economy than many would expect.

“It’s a fascinating look at the scope of the aviation industry and our role in the world,” says Paul Steele, Executive Director of ATAG the global association that represents air transport, “when you realise that aviation, if it were a country, would be the 19th largest economy in the world, supporting 56.6 million jobs and over two trillion dollars in economic impact, you really see the scale of air transport.”

Of the 56.6 million jobs supported by aviation, there are 8.4 million people directly employed by the sector, 9.3 million jobs at aviation industry suppliers and 4.4 million jobs are induced through spending by aviation industry employees. When you account for the part of the tourism sector made possible by air transport, over 34.5 million jobs are included in this total.

“Of course, aviation’s economic benefits spread far beyond the monetary aspects outlined here. When you take into account the further benefits gained through the speed and reliability of air travel, the businesses that exist because air freight makes them possible and the intrinsic value to the economy of improved connectivity, the economic impact would be several times larger.

“While the numbers relating to passengers are impressive enough, with nearly 2.7 billion passengers carried in 2010, the figures for air freight emphasise the importance of this mode of transporting valuable and perishable goods. The $5.3 trillion worth of freight carried by air transport in 2010 represents some 35% of the value of global trade, despite it representing half a percent of the volume. Air transport is invaluable for the shipment of lightweight but valuable goods.”

Other facts uncovered in the report, available at www.aviationbenefitsbeyondborders.org, include: there are 1,568 commercial airlines, 3,846 commercial airports, 192 air traffic control providers and 23,844 aircraft in service; Asia-Pacific accounts for 34% of passenger traffic worldwide, larger than both Europe and North America (both 27%); 35% of all international tourists travel by air; the average occupancy in aircraft is 77%, much higher than other forms of transport.

Steele adds, “The report also expands the economic data to include a view of aviation’s social benefits and environmental progress. Aviation is an invaluable part of the lives of modern people and will prove even more so as emerging economies continue to develop. It can also provide more immediate and vital links to remote communities, many island states and important relief with disaster response.

“With the sustainable development of economies and the creation of jobs comes the responsibility to carefully manage the resources we are using and the impact that we have on the world. All parts of the commercial aviation industry are engaged in ways we can reduce environmental impact – from new technology and operational efficiencies to infrastructure development. The amount of work occurring across the industry is an impressive sign of our commitment to sustainable development.”

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Geneva, 22 March 2012 – Leaders of the aviation industry meeting in Geneva, today sent a reminder to governments of the vital role the sector plays in economic growth, providing jobs whilst taking its environmental responsibilities seriously. Chief Executives and Directors General from 16 global aviation companies and organisations signed the Aviation & Environment Summit’s Declaration as a joint message to world governments due to meet at Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in June.

The industry leaders, representing airports, airlines, air navigation service providers and the makers of aircraft and engines, signed the declaration in a show of unity on the issue of sustainable development. Paul Steele, Executive Director of the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), the organisation coordinating the Summit, said that the declaration shows that aviation takes its role in sustainable development seriously. “Sustainable development – and the Rio+20 process – is about finding ways to balance the needs of growing economies and higher standards of living across society with the need to more carefully manage the resources we are using and the impact that we have on the world. I am pleased to say that aviation is committed to doing just that.

“In 2008, we were the first global sector to commit to global cross-industry action on climate change. That declaration set the agenda for cooperative action across the aviation industry to reduce fuel use and emissions. The cooperation between industry partners and the projects underway are impressive. They have led to millions of tonnes of avoided carbon emissions. Our commitment was taken up by governments and received support from the Secretary General of the United Nations as a path forward for other industries to follow. Today, we are able to expand that commitment to take account of our other impacts – the positive role we play in economic and social terms.”

The declaration says: “Aviation brings enormous benefits to communities and economies around the globe. It is a key enabler of economic growth and social development and provides connectivity and access to markets and tourism. Air transport, currently supporting 56.6 million jobs and over $2.2 trillion of global GDP with a strong track record of fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions savings, is a strategic contributor to sustainable development.”

Paul Steele added, “While aviation has shown remarkable commitment to working on its environmental responsibility, we also need governments to step up and help craft the sustainable future we all want. Support for research and development of new technologies, sustainable biofuels for aviation and the much-needed improvements in infrastructure are vital for aviation to be able to continue its positive role, while minimising its environmental impact. One key way to do this is to show leadership through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to deliver a global framework for international, multilateral market-based measures for aviation.

“Aviation is committed to addressing its environmental footprint. But any effort to do that must be properly designed and well thought-through to avoid competitive distortions and the diplomatic tensions that we are now seeing because of the European Emission Trading Scheme. We will be the ones stuck in the middle of a trade war and that will help no-one. Let’s ensure that governments get around the table at ICAO and build a truly global scheme that will incentivise efficiency, be acceptable to all governments and – most importantly – actually reduce emissions.”

The declaration was signed by the heads of associations representing the world’s airports (Airports Council International), airlines (International Air Transport Association), air navigation service providers (Civil Air Navigation Service Providers Organisation) and the CEOs of Airbus, Boeing, ATR, Bombardier, CFM International, Embraer, GE Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce.

The declaration came at the end of the 6th Aviation & Environment Summit, where over 300 leaders from across the aviation industry gathered in Geneva to discuss the progress being made in reducing emissions from aviation through new technology, operational efficiency and developments in infrastructure.

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