Air New Zealand has abandoned its ambitious 2030 goal to cut carbon emissions, blaming difficulties in securing more efficient planes and sustainable jet fuel. This move makes Air New Zealand the first major carrier to back away from such a climate target, drawing significant attention.
The airline emphasized it remains committed to the industry’s net zero emissions goal by 2050 and is working on a new short-term target. The aviation industry, producing around 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions, has been trying to reduce its footprint through measures like replacing older aircraft and using renewable fuel sources. However, delays in fleet renewal and challenges in obtaining Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) have posed additional risks.
In 2022, Air New Zealand set a 2030 target to cut emissions by almost 29%, a goal far more ambitious than the global aviation industry’s 5% reduction target over the same period. Unfortunately, the high price and limited production capacity of SAF, along with supply chain issues affecting aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus, have made this goal unachievable.
Greg Foran, Air New Zealand’s CEO, cited potential delays in the fleet renewal plan as a significant risk to meeting the 2030 target. Despite this setback, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reassured that the industry’s net zero 2050 target remains achievable, but it depends on supportive measures from governments and scaling up solutions like SAF production and new technological innovations.
In light of these developments, it’s hard not to feel a sense of disappointment. Boooo.
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