The airline industry has an awful lot at stake in the debate about how to address the specter of climate change.  I’ve written a few times about what they’re doing, here and here for instance, and in a magazine article I wrote on sustainability at the airports.

Emissions caps seen costing airlines $7 billion a year is the recent headline from Reuters.  In spite of the cost, the article reports that “The International Air Transport Association, which represents 230 airlines, agreed at a board meeting that it would achieve carbon neutral growth from 2020 through a combination of investment in technology, biofuels and economic measures such as carbon trading.”  The IATA’s press release says that the industry seeks to reduce its emissions by 50% by 2050.  “To achieve these goals, all players in the air transport industry are united in their proactive approach to environment. A cross industry four-pillar strategy on climate change that is focused on improved technology, effective operations, efficient infrastructure and positive economic measures is delivering results.”  For video of the IATA’s panel discussions on the environment from the AGM in Kuala Lumpur, go here.

In addition to this commitment, the Aviation Global Deal (AGD) Group, a coalition of airlines, aviation sector companies and The Climate Group, are putting their collective shoulders to the wheel on solving the climate crisis.