Advertisement
Climate change
Hong KongTransport

Exclusive | Aviation industry group is ‘rethinking’ its emissions pledge, pushing for even greener goals, outgoing chief says

  • International Air Transport Association head Alexandre de Juniac says industry needs to look at achieving carbon neutrality in exclusive exit interview with the Post
  • ‘We have to reach that through all the possible instruments … and ask the governments to help us,’ departing chief says

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
The outgoing chief of a major aviation industry association has called for more ambitious targets for cutting carbon emissions. Photo: Shutterstock
Danny Lee
An industry association representing the world’s airlines is mulling more ambitious climate change targets in a “rethink” of its environmental policy as part of a wider effort to convince the aviation industry to adopt even greener goals, its outgoing boss has disclosed.
In an exit interview with the Post, International Air Transport Association (IATA) chief Alexandre de Juniac – whose tenure has been marked by the long-term crisis of climate change, as well as the more immediate one presented by Covid-19 – pledged changes on both fronts, including taking lessons from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to apply to the next one.

The departing head of 290-member association, which represents the majority of global air traffic, hinted at a new industry target for carbon neutrality after the successful implementation of a cap on emissions through a so-called carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation, or CORSIA.

Advertisement
International Air Transport Association chief Alexandre de Juniac is leaving his position at the end of the month. Photo: Reuters
International Air Transport Association chief Alexandre de Juniac is leaving his position at the end of the month. Photo: Reuters

De Juniac said a “very strong rethink” of IATA’s environment policy was under way amid increased public and political pressure, but would be completed by his successor following his departure from the industry group’s top job at the end of the month after 4½ years at the helm.

Advertisement

“I think that what we need to think about is carbon neutrality somewhere in the long term as a target for the industry,” de Juniac said. “We have to reach that through all the possible instruments, such as … technology and sustainable fuels, which we should invest in a lot, and ask the governments to help us.”

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x