CLEANER PROGRESS QUIETER REPORT 2015-2017 SMARTER www.sustainableaviation.co.uk EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2005 the UK aviation industry was a world first in coming together to establish Sustainable Aviation (SA), and commit to working towards sustainable growth. This is SA’s sixth Progress Report and highlights achievements by this unique coalition of UK industry, especially in the last few years. Our progress against the seven key goals of the SA strategy is presented in this report with the highlights given below. GOAL 1 // SOCIAL & ECONOMIC A competitive aviation industry making a positive contribution to the UK economy and meeting the needs of society for air transport, whilst maintaining constructive relationships with stakeholders. SA members continue to make a positive contribution to the UK economy, contributing a further £10bn to the economy compared to 2005 and providing a further 2000 highly-skilled jobs since 2014. We have seen strong passenger growth, with 9% more people flown by SA members compared to 2014. Aviation will continue to play a critical role delivering the nation’s global connectivity as the UK leaves the European Union. GOAL 2 // CLIMATE CHANGE To identify, create and develop opportunities to reduce UK aviation climate change emissions and enable sustainable growth. We continue to make good progress to reduce UK aviation climate change emissions. We have disconnected the rate of passenger growth from growth in CO2 emissions. In 2016 we published our updated CO2 Road-Map which provided further confidence in delivering our 2012 vision of reducing net CO2 emissions. We also successfully lobbied for the inclusion of aviation in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to support the development of sustainable aviation fuels. 2 www.sustainableaviation.co.uk GOAL 3 // NOISE Limit and, where possible, reduce the impact of aircraft noise. We have made good progress against our commitments in our 2013 Road-Map, however these improvements have not always been reflected in community perceptions. During 2017, to further understand concerns of communities we commissioned independent research and will publish a discussion paper in 2018 on the findings to identify the most effective solutions to manage the impact of aircraft noise. GOAL 4 // LOCAL AIR QUALITY Industry to play its full part in improving air quality around airports. Air quality is a growing concern for communities and policy makers. In response, SA published a report on UK aviation and air quality. It concluded that aircraft emissions contribute 1% of the UK nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and 0.1% of UK particulate (PM10) emissions with a range of opportunities being explored to reduce this further. GOAL 5 // SURFACE ACCESS Industry playing its full part in an efficient, sustainable multi-modal UK transport system. Passenger use of public transport to access UK airports continues to increase, up 7% in the South East and up 5% in other areas of the UK since 2006. SA members continue to lobby the Government to ensure new road and rail projects connect with UK airports. Progress Report 2015-2017 3 GOAL 6 // NATURAL RESOURCES Environmental footprint of UK aviation’s ground-based non-aircraft activities is contained through effective engagement and reduction measures. Good progress is being made in the recycling of waste across UK airports, through partnerships with airlines, retailers, cleaning companies, ground handling companies and regulators. This includes the recycling of aircraft cabin and airport food waste as well as making use of waste to energy opportunities. SA members are also delivering improvements in the use of scarce resources, water and energy. GOAL 7 // IMPLEMENTATION Full industry commitment to sustainable development and communicating fully the role of aviation in society in order to support a better understanding of its contributions. Over the past two years we have secured greater commitment from the industry to sustainable development, recruiting 10 members and partnering with Innovate UK. We continue to educate policy makers and Parliamentarians on the role of aviation and our work. During 2018 we will focus more on reaching out to a broader audience, including with the general public. 4 www.sustainableaviation.co.uk 90,095 63,267 tonnes of CO2 saved due to more efficient flights in UK more continuous airspace since 2014 descent approaches in 2015/16 than 2014, reducing noise and CO2 The Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 have reduced the area impacted by noise by at least 2.4km2 than the aircraft they replace Over innovation and UK industry technology projects 12,200 has taken a key role in the 140 development of global are being supported by the UK aerospace industry, fewer people aviation industry carbon worth over in noise contour areas offset scheme at 5 SA airports than in 2014 £700 million despite 13% passenger growth to cut future aircraft emissions and noise, including development of hybrid and electric aircraft Disconnecting 1% growth in UK of UK NOx emissions aviation from growth in from aircraft emissions and noise in passengers using public of all specialist airport 2.3% transport to access UK airports 1 vehicles are zero increase in 2016 compared to 2014 /4 emission electric vehicles 120,000 people employed by SA members 2,000 more than in 2014 28.8m more passengers in 2016 compared to 2014 New UK special interest group to support UK sustainable jet fuels sector increase in aircraft fuel efficiency 2% since 2014 Progress Report 2015-2017 5 CONTENTS Executive summary 2 SA Chair’s review 7 Advisory Board comment 11 Performance against SA Goals 13 Goal 1 // SOCIAL & ECONOMIC 13 Goal 2 // CLIMATE CHANGE 15 Goal 3 // NOISE 19 Goal 4 // LOCAL AIR QUALITY 21 Goal 5 // SURFACE ACCESS 23 Goal 6 // NATURAL RESOURCES 24 Goal 7 // IMPLEMENTATION 25 Future work programme and next steps 27 About Sustainable Aviation 29 Glossary 33 References and notes 34 Progress Report 2015-2017 6 SA CHAIR’S REVIEW As I reflect on my two year tenure as Chair of Sustainable Aviation, it is clear that our industry continues to play a vital role in our economy and but it is one that is fiercely competitive. We have seen passenger numbers reach bringing together interested stakeholders. 250m in 2016, an increase of nearly 30m since Air quality is a growing concern for 2014, with further growth expected. We have communities and policy makers. In 2017 we disconnected that rate of growth from growth published a report on UK aviation and air in carbon emissions and noise over the last quality which shows that aircraft emissions two years. However, we recognise there is contribute 1% of the UK nitrogen oxide (NO ) more to do. x emissions compared to 32% for road transport. Over the past two years Sustainable Aviation However, we are seeking to minimise this members have continued to take a leading further pursuing a range of opportunities set role in collaboratively reducing our industry’s out in that document. impact on the global environment and local Airspace arrangements have remained communities. Our sixth progress report outlines largely unchanged since the 1950s. It is not what we have achieved, considers how the optimised for the industry, the environment or Goals we set in 2005 help meet the UN’s communities; modernising airspace is critical. Sustainable Development Goals. I am delighted We are beginning to see progress. Sustainable by what has been accomplished. Aviation has long called for a stable policy and For the first time we evaluated the socio- earlier this year, we were pleased when the economic impacts of aviation. In the last two Government published its revised UK Airspace years alone, Sustainable Aviation members Policy, providing greater public support and have delivered over 2000 new highly-skilled increasing transparency. jobs. Noise has been our priority this year. We have Our updated CO2 Road-Map, published in made good progress against our 2013 Road- 2016, provides further confidence in delivering Map however I think it is fair to say that these our 2012 vision of reducing net CO2 emissions, benefits have not always been reflected by and continues to be a reference document for community perceptions. It is essential that the industry. UK airlines took a leading role we better understand the concerns of local in securing global progress to establish the communities, that is why we commissioned Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for independent research and done further work International Aviation (CORSIA), enabling our on the role of technology and operational goal of carbon neutral growth from 2020. improvements to manage noise. In 2018 we will publish a paper on the findings and how we will We have made significant progress on take this work forward. creating a successful and vibrant sustainable aviation fuels sector for the UK by securing We have long recognised that we can’t secure our inclusion in the Government’s Renewable a sustainable future for aviation alone. We Transport Fuels Obligation, and working with have continued to build our relationships with Innovate UK to form a Special Interest Group Government and organisations such as the 7 www.sustainableaviation.co.uk Climate Change Committee. We have also development of sustainable alternative fuels. been supported by our Advisory Board, I I am thankful to the commitment of Sustainable would like to pay particular thanks to Catherine Aviation members during my time as chair, and Cameron, the Advisory Board Chair and the congratulate them on all they have achieved. board members for the support and advice I look forward to our continued success. they have provided. I would also like to recognise the contribution We are at a critical juncture for aviation. With of Monarch Airlines to Sustainable Aviation. demand set to continue to increase and efforts to limit global temperature rises to less than 1.5c above pre-industrial levels, consideration of science based targets and ensuring we’re tracking against the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is ever more critical.