AVIATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

All industries – including aviation – contribute to the problem of climate change and all must be a part of the solution.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has estimated that aviation accounts for only around 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions. However, it is growing and is estimated to reach 3% by 2050. Nevertheless, being a relatively small contributor to overall emissions is not a licence for complacency.

Sydney Airport has joined with the global aviation industry – including 94 other major airports around the world – in signing an International Declaration on Climate Change. In doing so, Sydney Airport has reaffirmed its commitment to the environment.

On the ground, Sydney Airport is implementing a range of on-airport initiatives to improve its own environmental performance and to reduce the Airport's carbon footprint.  For example, construction has commenced on Sydney Airport's water recycling plant that will save about 350 million litres of fresh water a year (see diagram).

To increase native vegetation at Sydney Airport, 71,000 native trees, shrubs and groundcover plants have been planted in Airport precincts as well as on roadsides and forecourts.

The Airport produces almost 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions each year with the biggest contributor being the energy used to run the air-conditioning system in the terminals.

Sydney Airport's Energy Savings Action Plan aims to significantly reduce the Airport's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the milestones in the Plan have been already achieved and Sydney Airport will continue to develop further initiatives to reduce the Airport's carbon footprint, including the use of alternative energy such as solar and cogeneration.

The broader aviation industry's challenge is to retain the many positive economic and social benefits that it provides, while reducing or eliminating negative environmental impacts, including carbon emissions.

Recent history shows that this challenge can be met. For example, the fuel efficiency of today's modern jets is 70% better than it was with the early jets. Improved fuel efficiency means lower carbon emissions and a reduced contribution to climate change.

And fuel efficiency will only improve, as we're seeing with the A380 and will soon see with the B787. The IPCC projects a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency by 2015 and a 40-50% improvement by 2050 relative to aircraft produced today.

To download further information, click on the link below.

Fact Sheet No. 7: Aviation and climate change (PDF 250KB)