PARIS: Under pressure from frequent flyers alarmed over climate change, the airline industry says it is"hellbent" on reducing emissions - but the technology needed to drastically reduce its carbon footprint is still out of reach.
The industry has been under fire over its carbon emissions, which at 285 grams of CO2 emitted per kilometre travelled by a passenger far exceed all other modes of transport. Road transportation follows at 158 and rail travel is at 14, according to European Environment Agency figures. The International Civil Aviation Organization estimates that air transport is responsible for 2 per cent of global CO2 emissions - roughly equivalent to the overall emissions of Germany, according to consulting firm Sia Partners.
It is a major challenge given that the number of passengers is expected to double over the next two decades to reach 8.2 billion in 2037.Companies are banking on a new generation of less polluting planes with updated engines, aerodynamic modifications and fittings that weigh less - among them tablets to replace heavy pilot manuals.
"But that only solves around 30 per cent of the problem," he said. The rest, he added, can only be resolved by developing sustainable biofuels or turning to electric power - technology which is currently impractical. "Batteries today are still too big and heavy to be used as the main source of power for aircraft," said Leithen Francis, managing director of Singapore-based aviation public relations agency Francis & Low.
Aviation must change travelling mode like bullet train across the countries. It may power distribution too.
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