Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Maintaining high and stable levels of economic growth and
employment
Aviation has shown a consistent pattern of overall growth in economic and employ-
ment terms over the last few decades. This pattern will continue, although the rate of
growth may slow. While there is a need to identify the external costs of aviation, their
levels will depend upon scientific determination of impacts and upon development
of appropriate costing mechanisms. In the meantime, minimizing the impacts is the
best route to reducing these costs.
The fundamental question for transport organizations is whether clean technol-
ogy, efficiency and environmental responsibility will be sufficient to attain long-term
sustainability in the eyes of society, as a whole. There are three elements commonly
taken as contributing to sustainability, outlined below, and these raise a number of
issues and questions that should be asked of an airline.
Environmental
Is there a commitment to reducing the harmful impacts of aviation? How can air-
lines improve performance and work with others on noise, emissions, waste man-
agement and sustainable tourism?
Economic
This is the basic requirement without which environmental and social programmes
are virtually meaningless. What do airlines offer the world in terms of trade flow,
jobs, shareholder returns and communications infrastructure? What benefits do
their passengers bring to their destinations and points of departure?
Social
What is the quality of airline relationships with staff, customers and shareholders, as
well as suppliers, partners, communities, regulators and other stakeholders? Who is
excluded from the prosperity they generate, and who are the victims? Do they meet
their fundamental responsibilities to our employees and our customers in terms of
wealth creation, safety, security and fair play? Do they respect human rights?
Airlines will only add value in the eyes of their stakeholders if their image and
supporting activities address all three areas and are relevant, not necessarily equally,
to all stakeholder groups.
Climate change - the long-term view
There is a further factor that merits discussion in relation to airlines and sustainabil-
ity - namely, the major issue of climate change (IPCC, 1999). The first imperative
is to pursue fuel efficiency coupled to best available technology. Emissions trading
based on conversion to carbon dioxide equivalents is the best medium-term solution
for aviation. Such trading must be linked to other industries and to mechanisms for
offsetting carbon dioxide emissions, and progress towards this must be made on a
global basis. In the meantime, it is essential that priority is also given to developing a
better understanding of the fate and effects of nitrogen oxide (NO
x
) and water vapour