Page 14 - European Energy Innovation - Summer 2016 publication
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14  Summer 2016 European Energy Innovation

    AVIATION

Aviation emissions: a global
solution for a global issue

By Violeta Bulc, EU Commissioner for Transport (pictured)

                 Aviation is a strong driver
                                                                                                                                       of growth, jobs, trade and
                                                                                                                                       mobility for our economy
                                                                                                                                       and citizens. It contributes
                                                                                                                       €110 billion annually to the EU’s
                                                                                                                       Gross Domestic Product, and directly
                                                                                                                       employs 2 million Europeans. However,
                                                                                                                       it also has an increasing impact on the
                                                                                                                       environment. Today aviation represents
                                                                                                                       around 2% of global CO2 emissions
                                                                                                                       and this is expected to increase in the
                                                                                                                       future. According to the International
                                                                                                                       Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO),
                                                                                                                       emissions will grow by at least 63% by
                                                                                                                       2020 compared to 2006 levels, and by
                                                                                                                       at least 290% by 2050 if no effective
                                                                                                                       mitigation action is taken. The latest
                                                                                                                       European Aviation Environmental
                                                                                                                       Report also confirmed that the
                                                                                                                       sustainability challenge will increase as
                                                                                                                       the sector continues to grow, despite
                                                                                                                       the technological improvements that
                                                                                                                       are being made.

                                                                                                                       The Aviation Strategy for Europe we
                                                                                                                       adopted last December recognises
                                                                                                                       that the future competitiveness of
                                                                                                                       air transport is closely linked to its
                                                                                                                       sustainability. The strategy stresses
                                                                                                                       the importance of decreasing CO2
                                                                                                                       emissions and the way forward for
                                                                                                                       Europe. First we need to complete
                                                                                                                       the Single European Sky project.
                                                                                                                       This would cut CO2 emissions by an
                                                                                                                       average of 10% per flight within the EU.
                                                                                                                       Then, we have to continue supporting
                                                                                                                       research & development actions for
                                                                                                                       innovative “green” technologies: SESAR
                                                                                                                       for innovative solutions to improve
                                                                                                                       the efficiency of the European Air

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