Florian Guillermet
Executive Director, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
This report would not have been possible without the expertise, dedication and hard work of all contributors, who have worked tirelessly to bring it to fruition. Heartfelt thanks, and congratulations on this achievement!
This is the fourth European Aviation Environmental Report (EAER) and, when I compare it with past editions, it is clear that the urgency to address the sustainability challenges facing the aviation sector has intensified. This has been acknowledged within Europe and there are significant new initiatives in place under the European Green Deal, with the aim of achieving the agreed environmental goals at both the European and ICAO level.
To meet the 2050 goals of EU climate neutrality and ICAO net-zero carbon emissions, aviation will need to significantly reduce its current contribution every single year from 2025 onwards. European citizens expect the aviation industry to be proactive in this, as people judge climate change, and the associated impacts on nature and biodiversity, to be one of the most serious problems facing the world today. In addition, airports are facing operational challenges due to the impact of noise and air quality on local communities, and this has been recognised through new 2030 targets that have been set under the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
The challenge for the aviation sector is to turn these sustainability goals into concrete action. Having made environmental protection a key strategic priority, we are now in a decisive period where we will be judged on how the industry comes together to solve a range of issues that cannot be resolved by any one organisation alone.
Much has been achieved in recent years to set us on the right path. However, we need to move faster. A concerted effort is required now. By addressing the issues within this report, we will be able to manage an orderly transition to cleaner aviation while maintaining a high uniform level of safety and connectivity. Honest, transparent and effective communication is critical to securing the trust of European citizens that aviation is indeed acting to become more sustainable and will meet the future goals.
Europe is positioning itself to make the most of this new green economy and to create an aviation sector fit for future generations. I invite you to engage with this EAER for an overview of the progress to date and the way forward.