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The World Economic Forum has launched the Airport’s of Tomorrow Initiative and we've dug a bit deeper to provide a snapshot of what we found….
🌐 World Economic Forum's Vision:
✈️ Industry's Impact: Aviation contributes 2.5% of total CO2 emissions, underscoring the urgent need for transformation.
🌱 Clean Energy Hubs: 50+ CEOs unite to transform airports into clean energy hubs, requiring investments of $175 billion yearly, aiming for €5 trillion by 2050.
🚀 Path to Net Zero: Formidable efforts, fueled by technology advancements in green energy, are crucial. The Airports of Tomorrow initiative, led by the World Economic Forum, focuses on new infrastructure requirements for a successful energy transition.
🔍 Decarbonizing Challenges in Aviation:
✈️ 2.5% of Global CO2 Emissions: Aviation's accountability emphasizes its role in global decarbonization.
🌍 Supply Chain Emissions: Airports contribute to 3% of aviation emissions, necessitating a $100 billion investment for hydrogen and electric flight infrastructure.
💡 Initiative Highlights:
🏗️ Infrastructure Innovation: Anticipating airports' future needs, producing, distributing, and storing hydrogen and renewable energy on airport grounds.
🛢️ Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Scaling up at least 300 SAF plants by 2030 is a key pillar, focusing on reducing Scope 3 emissions.
💸 Innovative Financing: De-risking and upscaling sustainable finance solutions for airports, ensuring financial support for the transition.
🌐 Global Partnership: Collaborating with UpLink to host the Blue Skies Pioneers startup challenge, inviting innovative firms to join the mission.
Since Colectivo's principal home is in Ireland, we took some of our key learnings from the AIB Sustainability Conference "It's Time to Act" to share what national airline Aer Lingus is doing to reach sustainability best-practices. Take a look at this case study below:
A snapshot of Aer Lingus sustainability commitment:
🚀 Net-Zero Commitment: Aer Lingus aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, focusing on both air and ground operations.
🛫 In the Air: Fleet upgrade with fuel-efficient aircraft, sustainable fuel choices, and noise reduction measures.
🌍 On the Ground: Energy-efficient offices, increased use of electric vehicles, and recycling initiatives.
✅ Pillars of Aer Lingus Strategy:
🌱 Carbon Reduction & SAF: Investment in fuel-efficient aircraft, hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) as an alternative fuel source, and a commitment to purchasing SAF.
♻️ Waste Reduction & Recycling: Introducing on-board recycling, reducing single-use plastics, and setting recycling targets.
🔇 Noise Reduction: Utilising quieter aircraft models to minimise noise pollution.
💡 Energy Efficiency: Upgrading the ground fleet to electric vehicles, implementing LED lighting, and exploring energy-efficient solutions for office buildings.
🌟 Taking Flight Toward Sustainability:
Airlines like Aer Lingus, as well as other key stakeholders in the aviation industry are steering toward a sustainable future, emphasising innovation, collaboration, and commitment. Let's support these initiatives for a cleaner, greener aviation landscape!
Sources:
Author: Lucy is a full-time student from Ireland conducting research on sustainable innovation trends as part of her Transition Year work experience with Colectivo.