Climate is existential - for the planet and air travel: Aviation must renew its licence to grow

An audience of senior aviation professionals recently doubted the sector's ability to renew its licence to grow. At CAPA's Airlines in Transition (AIT) conference in Dublin on 11-Mar-2016, 88% of delegates polled believed that environmental pressures would constrain airline growth over the next 20 years. Although aviation is one of the only global sectors with ambitious emissions reduction targets, and a strategy to achieve them, its message is not being heard.

Aviation must communicate its importance to the global economy, so that governments and other stakeholders regard its growth as essential. Introducing the topic, Professor Geoffrey Lipman argued for a "moon-shot" to focus resources and attention on developing commercially viable biofuels, allowing a carbon-free future for aviation. This goes beyond the industry's current targets. He stressed the significance of climate change above almost any other global issue: "Climate is existential", he stated.

Following the 2015 Paris Agreement the world has stepped up all efforts to ensure its future existence. Aviation must play its part and also be seen to do so.