Airlines For Europe (A4E) is launching a new campaign ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) start in Glasgow on October 31st: the first-ever carbon neutral flights from Brussels – Glasgow, non-stop, using a maximum sustainable aviation fuel blend of 50%, combined with high quality offsets.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels, SAFs, are the most viable means to reduce aviation emissions in the next decades. They can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation by up to 85% compared with conventional jet fuels – and will contribute 34% of the emissions reductions needed to fully decarbonise European aviation by 2050.
Seats are limited, and you can register your interest here. A4E promises unique onboard service, as well as an special event included.
The COP26 summit, which will take place in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021, is meant to bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
World currently not on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees
The targets announced in Paris would result in warming well above 3 degrees by 2100 compared to pre-industrial levels. If we continue as we are, temperatures will carry on rising, bringing even more catastrophic flooding, bush fires, extreme weather and destruction of species.
Progress in recent months to bend the temperature curve closer to 2 degrees; but the science shows that much more must be done to keep 1.5 degrees in reach. The world needs to halve emissions over the next decade and reach net zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century if we are to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees.
As part of the Paris Agreement, every country agreed to communicate or update their emissions reduction targets – their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – every five years to reflect their highest possible ambition and a progression over time. These targets set out how far countries plan to reduce emissions across their entire economy and/or in specific sectors.
2020 marked the first of these five year cycles. This means that countries are expected to update their 2030 targets before we meet in Glasgow. The UK is calling on all countries to update them so that they are in line with holding temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. It is especially important that developed countries and the largest emitters take the lead.
While targets are important, they must translate into action. Which is why developed countries must rapidly phase out coal power, and all countries should commit to not opening or financing any new coal-fired power stations across the world.
