One big concern is whether airlines and the aviation industry will revert to their old methods or adapt towards more sustainable practises now that the COVID-19 pandemic is coming to an end and that international borders have opened in the past year. One benefit of the epidemic was that it forced businesses to address their carbon emissions and environmental effects. Coming to a complete halt, the aviation industry became aware of the impact they were making.
But will these businesses have a chance to make a permanent shift in the coming years? Or will there only be a brief period of virtue signaling before things get back to normal?
Airlines and greenhouse gas emissions
While the construction sector contributes the most greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, the aviation industry is still one of the most impactful industries when it comes to carbon emissions. In fact, a research indicated that air travel is the main source of the 8% of global carbon emissions attributed to tourism, with cars and boats making up the remainder. This was made clear by the sudden drop in emissions that occurred during the epidemic, which forced the grounding of the majority of aircraft.
How are airlines addressing this problem?Â
Airlines have recently implemented a number of initiatives to help address the issue as public demand to improve eco-friendliness has increased. Some businesses have taken the initiative to address this issue and incorporate the future reduction of greenhouse gas emissions into their business plans. For instance, the worldwide business aviation firm Vistaglobal, often known as Vista Jet, has made significant progress since the epidemic by launching its “Sustainability in Aviation” promise at the beginning of 2020.
The US aviation sector, meanwhile, committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in 2021. They intend to do this by placing more emphasis on the availability of renewable fuel, which emits up to 80% less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels. Making 2 billion gallons of sustainable fuel accessible by 2030 is the first step. This is undoubtedly a foresighted decision given the present issue with fossil fuels, which was sparked by the conflict in Ukraine.
How can we help as consumers?Â
Even while airlines significantly reduce carbon emissions, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to become complacent. Additionally, we as travellers and tourists have a part to play. You can always change your mind about your mode of transportation and choose a location that is accessible by car or train.
But if you want to travel overseas and need to reserve a flight, try to either do so with an airline that also backs sustainable projects or design your trip around eco-tourism ideas! You may achieve this by researching eco-hotels and making sure the activities you engage in promote a sustainable agenda.
