Green Aviation

Green Aviation International’s expert aviation professionals have teamed up with highly experienced EU Emissions Trading partners to offer the airline community a unique INDEPENDENT, low cost service to take the headache and worry out of preparing and managing ETS compliance, and to allow airlines to significantly reduce their costs!  We are offering airlines an independent assessment of their full ETS needs, as well as being able to provide a full service, or bespoke requirements, to all airlines, large, medium or small.

Because we are a non-profit, we are able to provide you with high-value, low cost, professional services, without worrying about making large profits at your expense to satisfy demanding shareholders, or needing to offset losses on financial products or investments elsewhere!  Any surplus funds that we do make are earmarked for re-investment in environmental projects! It’s a great win-win for you and the environment!

Learn more here!

Barack Obama and congressional leaders are preparing rapid legislation to cut US emissions that cause global warming and to kick-start a clean energy revolution. Two bills are to be introduced as soon as the President-elect takes office in January. One will provide $15bn a year to encourage innovation in renewable energies as part of a thorough overhaul of the highly polluting US energy system. The other will pave the way to setting up a system of tradable emissions permits to combat global warming. The moves will greatly boost attempts to bring in a “green new deal” as the best way out of the financial crisis.

Mr Obama wants to return US emissions of carbon dioxide to 1990 levels by 2020, and cut them by a further 80 per cent by 2050.

Read the story in The Independent

FedEx has pledged to cut the carbon dioxide emissions of its aircraft fleet by 20% by 2020, mainly to be achieved through investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft as well as 30 other initiatives, with matching reductions in its vehicle fleet. Since 2005, the corporation says it has reduced aircraft emissions by 3.7% per available ton mile. FedEx Express and FedEx Freight operate three solar-powered facilities in California and recently broke ground for its largest solar-powered hub to date in Cologne, Germany. Read the full story at our friends at GreenAir Online

Restricting the rise in global temperatures to just 2°C will require the use of new technologies that are not yet widely available, and a price for carbon dioxide emissions well above today’s levels, the International Energy Agency warned on Wednesday. Read the full story in the Financial Times.

Imposing overly stringent climate legislation in Europe will simply drive away business, jobs and emissions to other countries, according to the findings of a new air transport industry-sponsored report.
Inclusion of Aviation in the EU ETS: Cases for Carbon Leakage, by consultancy Ernst & Young, argues that aviation’s inclusion within the European Union’s emissions trading scheme will have a significant financial and economic impact on airlines, especially EU-based carriers - and carry the risk of international carriers completely bypassing the EU.
Read the story here

“Uncertainty should not be an excuse for not making a decision”

A team of Swiss and British scientists have compared major research carried out on climate change, showing where consensus on the issue ends and disagreements begin. Almost all scientists agreed that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by humans were mainly responsible for global warming, but opinions differed on the magnitude of future warming levels.
Read the full story here

Two pressing problems face the world: economic meltdown and global warming. Conveniently, a solution presents itself that apparently solves both: governments should invest heavily in green technology, thus boosting demand while transforming the energy business. This notion is gaining credence around the world. Last month the United Nations called for a “Global Green New Deal”. But it is in America that the idea is really taking off. The United States Conference of Mayors reckons that green investment should provide 2.5m jobs. The Centre for American Progress thinks $100 billion worth of spending in the area would spawn 2m jobs. The new president tops both. Barack Obama proposes spending $150 billion over ten years, thus helping, he says, to create 5m jobs.
Read the article in the Economist

Dr Peter Liese Member of the European Parliament and Environmental “Rapporteur” yesterday (29 Oct 08) spoke with great passion about the importance of needing to take urgent on climate change including the necessity to include aviation in the Emissions Trading Scheme from 2012. He was special guest at the EU/ECAC conference in Geneva where delegates from the EU and other nations met to discuss the decision by the European Parliament to include aviation into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme from 2012.

Full speech below, reproduced with the kind permission of Dr Liese.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,

thank you very much for the invitation to this very important meeting. I am happy to give you an overview about the discussions in the European Institutions and in the European Public Opinion. And even though the decision on the inclusion of Aviation in the EU ETS has been made, I would also like to discuss with you the details of the proposal and possible compromises at international level. Maybe this is surprising for some of you but I will come back to this point later on.

As I said, the decision has been made. The EU Institutions agreed on the details of a compromise at the end of June this year. The European Parliament has agreed to the compromise in July with a huge majority (the Parliament voted 640 to 30 in favour of the proposal with 20 abstentions). The European Council of Ministers has formally agreed on the text after translating it into the 21 official languages of the European Union on Friday last week. The decision of the European Institutions and especially some aspects of the decision have been heavily criticized mainly by stakeholders from outside the European Union but even though I think it is absolutely necessary and it was without alternative. Greenhouse gas emissions from aviation have dramatically increased since 1990.

Scientists are telling us that we have to stop the increase of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, by 2020 at the latest. This target has been agreed on by the international community at the UNFCCC Conference in Bali, December last year. In the long-run, greenhouse gas emission has to be reduced by 50% till 2050. If we don’t succeed in first limiting and then reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the world and especially our children will suffer severely. The former chief economist of the World Bank, Sir Nicholas Stern, has calculated that the effect of an unlimited increase of greenhouse gas emissions will cost 5-20% of the gross domestic product of the world, which means that the effect of the uncontrolled climate change can economically only be compared with the two world wars. That’s why we have to act.

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy, at present President of the European Council of the Heads of States and Heads of Governments, gave a speech last week in the European Parliament and pointed out that our generation is the last generation that is able to stop an uncontrolled climate change. If we don’t do what scientist aske us to do now, future generations will no longer be able to control the issue. And it is unjustifiable to just accept that one important part of the economy like aviation is growing as fast as it has been doing since 1990. The ETS is in principle a very good instrument to achieve cost-efficient greenhouse gas reductions. This is not only accepted by policy makers in the European Union. It is also the position of the two candidates for the US presidential elections. Both, Obama and McCain supported the Lieberman-Warner Act in the Senate which seeks to introduce ETS System which also includes aviation in the US. McCain explicitly referred to the EU-ETS.

ETS is not a tax and it has a lot of advantages compared to a tax. While a tax is not guaranteeing greenhouse gas reduction, the ETS does. We have a cap and either the airlines can achieve the cap on their own or they buy certificates so that somebody else who could do this maybe more cost-efficiently invests in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. As a Member of Parliament I am directly elected and so are my 784 colleagues. That’s why the expectation of our voters are undisputedly of major importance for us. From the outside of the European Union, it looks for some people as if the EU exaggerates with the policy for mitigating climate change. The public in Europe, and that’s our voters, think the opposite. It has been a very intensive survey about the expectation of European citizens concerning climate change and the outcome is that even after the decision of including aviation in the ETS and after the presentation of the very ambitious European Climate and Energy Package, the majority of the citizens think the EU does not enough to mitigate climate change. According to a survey revealed in September this year, approximately 76% of the interviewees are of the opinion that the industry and companies are not doing enough in the fight against the climate change. Two thirds (67%) of the interviewees believe that the citizens themselves don’t do enough. Only a smaller part (64%) of the interviewees reckon that the national government does not enough against the fight and 58% state that the EU is not doing enough in this issue.

The second survey, also revealed by the Eurobarometer 300 in September this year, shows the answers to the question: Which of the following do you consider to be the most serious problem currently facing the world as a whole? The most serious problem for the interviewees with 68% is poverty, lack of food and drinking water. 62% state that they fear global warming / the climate change. 53% see the international terrorism as a serious problem. 38% find armed conflicts to be a fear factor in their daily lives. 24% are afraid of a major global economic downturn. 23% hold the spread of an infectious disease as well as the proliferation of nuclear weapons to be the most serious problem whereas 19% find the increasing world population as frightening.

Of course we would prefer to achieve our target together with all other relevant states and groups of states but we had to learn that this is almost hopeless. I have been present at the COP-1, the first conference of the parties from Rio convention 1995 in Berlin. At this meeting it has in principle been agreed that greenhouse gas emissions by aviation should not be addressed under UNFCCC but under the ICAO. This has been fixed in the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. Since that date, that means 11 years later, ICAO has completely failed. We haven’t seen any concrete outcome for more than 10 years of work. In the view of our voters as well as in the view of the European Parliament this is a shame and it is even more a shame that some members of ICAO try to block any kind of activity for states or groups of states to mitigate climate change. This is at least how we in the European Parliament perceive the attempts to adopt a resolution that would impose the necessity of consent from third states before introducing emission trading, for example in the European Union. We didn’t include intercontinental flights that start and land in Europe to tease industries from third countries. We included them because two third of the emissions from flights that start and land in Europe come from intercontinental flights. That’s why ETS only for internal European flights would be not effective. Our decision is based on a very careful legal assessment. Independent lawyers as well as the European Commission’s legal service came to the conclusion that we are allowed to do so under ICAO rules and therefore we would be optimistic even in case a third state or group of third states would challenge our decision.

On the other hand, of course, I would be much happier if we could avoid legal conflicts at ICAO or any other level. However, I have to say that I am very disappointed that all the representatives from third countries that can came to see me before we adopted the final text were very superficial and didn’t address the details of our proposal. If a major player from outside the European Union would have told that they could accept our proposal under certain conditions which would not have undermined the environmental integrity of the proposal, I would have been more than ready to accept these proposals. However, all the representatives from third countries said: “You shouldn’t do this at all.” This is not an answer which we could sell our voters. Until now I have the feeling that third countries and especially the representatives of third countries in ICAO are in principle not constructive but want to oppose and delay any kind of action to mitigate climate change. I would be more than happy if you could convince me today, in the coming weeks or months or even later from the opposite.

You may have heard that the final compromise which we have agreed and which was now formally adopted by the Council of Ministers is much less ambitious than the original position of the European Parliament. We have not included a multiplier. In the scheme, so it is a CO2-only-scheme. It is an open scheme. Any kind of restriction that has been proposed by colleagues in the European Parliament are not adopted in the final deal. Moreover, concerning the cap in the level of auctioning, the compromise is less ambitious than the original position of the European Parliament. In this issue, cap and the level of auctioning we have to discuss a compromise for the second period which begins in 2013 during the general review of the ETS. The cap for the aviation sector foresees only 5% reduction compared to the base period 2004 to 2006. This is not a lot if you compared it with targets for the other ETS sectors which is according to the commission proposal minus 21% until 2020. The same applies to auctioning. Auctioning was fixed until 2020. The level of auctioning has been restricted to 15% until 2020. Almost all over industries will be covered by 100% in 2020. Some already from 2013 on. That’s why the European Parliament and especially the Committee for Environment has decided to reopen this discussion as I said for the second period. Some colleagues argue that third countries will be very challenged by this discussion. That’s why I would like to hear from you: Is there a representative of a third country here at the conference that excepts the European Union ETS for aviation as it stands now and would not accept it when we increase the level of auctioning and adopt a more stringent cap. If this is the case, we definitely have to take it into account but as long as representatives from third countries are against the ETS in principle, why should we be less ambitious and why should we treat aviation more generously than all the other industries.

I think we all share the conviction that the best option would be a global solution and for the European Parliament this option is still on the table. I personally as the rapporteur insisted that we keep the door open for an agreement with third countries and of course preferably an agreement with all third countries based on an international agreement. Furthermore, I managed my colleagues and the Council to accept the clear message in the final agreement. In recital 17 we agreed: “The Community and its Member States should continue to seek an agreement on global measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation…

The Community and its Member States should continue to be in contact with third parties during the implementation of this Directive and to encourage third countries to take equivalent measures. If a third country adopts measures, which have at least the equivalent environmental effect as this Directive, for reducing the climate impact of flights to the Community, the Commission should consider the options available in order to provide for optimal interaction between the Community scheme and that country’s measures, after consulting that country…
Bilateral agreements on linking the Community scheme with other trading schemes to form a common scheme or taking account of equivalent measures to avoid double regulation could constitute a step towards a global agreement. Where such bilateral arrangements are made, the Commission may amend the types of aviation activities included in the Community scheme.”

That means for us, the decision under the EU ETS is not the end of the debate with other states. We are in favour of bilateral agreements and of course in favour of a global agreement and we are ready to amend our legislation if it is necessary to come to an agreement with third countries. But please don’t ask us to do nothing. Our voters would not accept this and what is more important, future generations would blame us for having uncontrolled effects of climate change. It is high time to come from talks to action. If ICAO is ready for this, ICAO is a very welcomed partner for the European Parliament.
Thank you for your attention.”

© Peter Liese MEP. Reproduced with permission by Green Aviation International http://www.greenaviation.org

Speech available in pdf format at this location - Contribution_from_Peter_Liese.pdf

Speech delivered 29 October 2008 at this conference

Following last Friday’s decision of the European Council of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers to rubber stamp the decision to bring air transport into the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2012, Director of Green Aviation International, Andrew F Pozniak, today welcomed the decision as “finally bringing much-needed clarity to allow the airlines to start to plan and prepare for the ETS”

Pozniak added “whilst there are still some key issues to be resolved such as the level of auctioning from 2013, this is another step in the right direction of airlines, and ultimately all transport, being required to reduce their pollution and help in the urgent fight against climate change.”

He responded to the negative reaction by some parts of the aviation industry by highlighting that their leaders had failed to lead for more than 10 years since being required to plan for cuts in emissions. “They almost ignored it until a year ago when they finally woke up to the fact that the EU was demonstrating global leadership in this vital issues for humanity. Now they complain that only a global deal is possible – but where have they been for the past decade? How many additional tonnes of CO2 and other pollutants have been added to the atmosphere due to their complacency? Those leaders have lost credibility, and rightly the EU has lost patience.”

“And those same voices complain that the time is not right because of the credit-crunch. Well I have been in the aviation industry for over 20 years and some of our ‘leaders’ have always cried “we are in crisis, leave us alone, treat us as a special case once more!” Yes the current crisis is bad, very bad, but it will not last forever and most airlines will survive and expand again. Some parts of aviation are only in ‘constant crisis’ because of very poor management and lack of foresight, whereas other well-managed airlines thrive and adjust to economic circumstances. ETS is just another economic circumstance. It’s time for poor management to stop their poor excuses and wake up to reality of the climate-crunch”.

“Those airlines with strong management teams now have the extra clarity to plan for ETS implementation. Many will need help for sure, but at least they know where they are heading now, at least for 2012. The airlines that we work with comprehend that these issues are far better addressed sooner rather than later – from both an environmental AND financial perspective. Airlines can eventually become both “green and lean and contrary to the popular propaganda the current financial crisis is all the more reason to accelerate their green programs to help them save money. We help them get there.”

Ed Miliband, the UK’s climate change secretary, is close to reaching an agreement on toughening his legally binding climate change targets by promising to take into account emissions from shipping and aviation. He is also expected to include a commitment that by 2012 UK businesses will be required to report annually on their carbon emissions. Business is responsible for 30% of total emissions.

Miliband was praised by environmentalists last week when he increased the UK legal target to cut the greenhouse gas emissions target from 60% to 80% by 2050. Miliband said he was responding to evidence that the science showed the risk of climate change was growing, and said Britain would make an 80% cut to the headline target in its climate change legislation.

Full story at the Guardian

By Michael Crichton

National Press Club
Washington DC
January 25, 2005

Michael’s detailed explanation of why he criticizes global warming scenarios. Using published UN data, he reviews why claims for catastrophic warming arouse doubt; why reducing CO2 is vastly more difficult than we are being told; and why we are morally unjustified to spend vast sums on this speculative issue when around the world people are dying of starvation and disease.

We at GAIA are extremely open-minded about climate change, and fully open that the science of climate change is not yet settled, there is much more research to do in this fascinating field. The scientists at Omega are doing some great things as well.

Whilst some scientists doubt the link between CO2 and global warming the majority are convinced it is fact. Similarly, even if it ever turned out that there was no relationship between CO2 and warming, we already know as facts the harmful effects of Ozone depletion letting in higher levels of cosmic radiation. There are various non-CO2 impacts of aviation pollution on the environment and they all need to be addressed so that aviation can continue to be a successful and ultimately expanding industry that is sustainable and any harmful impacts are fully mitigated. We love aviation, we want to see it succeed.

Now over to Michael’s full perspective at his site at this link.

Carbon Sciences is developing a breakthrough technology to transform carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the basic fuel building blocks required to produce gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and other fuels!  Learn more at Greenaironline

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made a surprise appearance at the solar industry’s annual confab Monday night, warning not to use the financial crisis as an excuse to abandon the fight against global warming. Full story at CNN

Following last week’s decision by The European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) to approve a package of measures to stiffen the EU Emissions Trading Scheme from 2013 as part of a general review of climate policy by the European Commission, the Managing Director of Green Aviation International commented today “this is exactly the kind of punitive action that I have been warning the airlines about, should they continue to stick their heads in the sand and take far too little voluntary action”.

Andrew Pozniak added “And undoubtedly we will also see further raising of so-called green taxes by governments desperate to cover the massive costs of their recent interventions to save the banks and stock markets from the credit crunch; this will further hurt the aviation industry and they will rightly feel that they have been mugged and their wallets stolen by the tax people. If only the airlines had taken climate more seriously!”

He also criticised the European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) measures, “Airlines and other business must pay the price of pollution for sure, and the ENVI decision is ultimately a step in the right direction, but the timing is wrong, and the engagement with business and the scientific community is lacking.” “Leading scientists are currently writing up the results of interesting new research for submission to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) early next year and ENVI should have at least waited until after chewing on the outputs of the IPCC before making arbitrary decisions.”

“However, their actions are hardly surprising given that apart from a very few exceptions, the great majority of the airline industry has failed to take the issues of climate change really seriously, and they have failed to take sufficient action, despite the fact that many simple low cost steps can already be taken.”

“The airlines that we collaborate with understand that these issues are easier resolved sooner rather than later – from both an environmental AND economic perspective. Airlines can become both “green and lean and contrary to the popular propaganda the current financial crisis is all the more reason to accelerate their green programs to help save money. We teach them how.”

Mon 6 Oct 2008 - Scientists studying the effects of aircraft contrails and non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions from aviation, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), report that whilst the science is improving they are still unsure of the magnitude of aviation’s impact on global warming. There are still major uncertainties that require further research and they advise policy makers to steer clear of basing decisions on so-called ‘multipliers’. For the full story click on the greenair logo below.

EU to press third countries to participate with it in tackling international aviation greenhouse gas emissions

Fri 10 Oct 2008 – At a European Union Council meeting in Luxembourg yesterday, transport ministers called for the European Commission to engage with third countries on international aviation emissions. The Commission was urged to persuade them to adopt equivalent measures to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, which should be included in the framework of aviation bilateral agreements. The Council appears to have backtracked on an agreement with the European Parliament that ETS auction revenues must be ring-fenced for environmental measures. Click on the greenaironline.com logo below to get the full story.

Yesterday at the “World Low Cost Airlines Congress” in London the founder of Green Aviation International presented his vision and urged the low cost airlines to wake up and see the reality of Climate Change happening around them. The session included a discussion panel comprising Ryanair, SAS, and the European Commission and Green Aviation International.

Andrew F Pozniak reminded the audience that despite the current economic problems “aviation emissions have doubled since 1990, and are forecast to double again by 2025.” “That is seen by the public as being a bad neighbour, and worse.” He added that as a consequence “Some people choose not to fly with certain airlines, or not to fly at all” which impacts upon their revenues as well attracting the attention of legislators who impose swingeing punitive taxes that increases the cost of flying, and undermining the low-cost business model.”

He urged that carriers have to start now to plan for the inevitable EUs Emissions Trading Scheme and to help make it a success. Reacting to comments that ETS is just another tax he highlighted that it is not a tax but a well designed financial process that ensures polluters pay, but rewards those that clean up.

“Already it succeeds for 40% of Europe’s dirty polluters, and now it is time for aviation to join. Australia is going to do the same, you must be ready”, he recommended “But as it stands now, the industry has no real plans, no real deliverables, no real milestones, no real schedule, therefore no real project to do anything. Just talk. No wonder no one is listening to aviation any more! We need to change that, we need to move forwards and get serious about fixing the environment”

He highlighted several practical, low-cost, steps that airlines can embark upon already to improve their environmental image and also get ready for ETS, offering his long practical experience of the airline industry.

He concluded by urging the industry to work together with a greater sense of purpose to a common set of effective goals which are currently lacking.

The full text is available at http://www.greenaviation.org/

Note to editors below:

Planning is underway to include these important green subjects and much more at the upcoming Green Aviation Inaugural AGM and Green Aviation World Summit, more details revealed in due course at http://www.greenaviation.org/

“Green Aviation International Association” was incorporated as a non-profit in April by a team of experienced aviation business professionals who are concerned at the lack of truly effective progress in resolving the green problems in aviation’s own backyard. It believes that effective professional cooperation, not politics, will ultimately make the difference.  It is not political beyond its environmental goals and maintaining a successful aviation industry for humanity. It’s funding does not come from any special interest groups but from voluntary donations, consulting engagements, project direction and management, and other upcoming products and services that will be rolled out. Surplus funds will be reinvested into green aviation and related projects.

Andrew Francis Pozniak is the Managing Director of Green Aviation International Association. He brings to the environmental arena much passion and business skills gained through 20 years as an aviation professional. He believes that a positive engagement, multi-partner, business-professional approach is the only way to successfully resolve aviation’s green issues and the other business problems. He will be presenting the GreenAviation™ and “Turning Aviation Green™ ” visions and solutions at upcoming conferences as well as in a new forum on the company’s web site next month.

For further information please email communications@greenaviation.org or visit http://www.greenaviation.org

Green Aviation International Association.  Cherry Izakovic.  24th Sep 2008

Planning is now underway for our inaugural Annual General Meeting and World Congress in early 2009! Members and non-members from aviation, environment, academia, supporting businesses, governments, NGOs and the press will be invited to participate and help change the face of aviation! We can “turn aviation green” together!  If you want further information or want to let us know of your interest in participating in this unique event, please complete our contact form on this site so that we can be in touch with you.

Humanity must urgently embark on a massive programme to power civilisation from wood to stave off catastrophic climate change, one of the world’s top scientists has told The Independent on Sunday.

Twenty years ago, Professor James Hansen was the first leading scientist to announce that global warming was taking place. His views will command respect because, as director of Nasa’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies for the past 27 years, he has been one of the few climate scientists ready to risk his reputation by openly stating what many suspect to be true.

Read the full article in the Independent

We are very pleased to announce our support for the Aviation Emissions Trading Summit, organised by London Business Conferences, and being hosted 24-25 November at the New Connaught Rooms, in London. 

This event follows their successful 2007 Summit which attracted numerous delegates from the aviation sector and analysed the practical and operational processes behind the scheme. In light of the recent announcements by the European Parliament in July that all aviation will be included in the ETS, it is extremely timely to be announcing this year’s Summit! 

We are certain it will be of interest and great value to you. With escalating fuel prices and increasing economic uncertainty, airlines need clarity now on how the current design scheme is going to work, and understand what might happen in the future. This event is also unique because it will explore how airlines are beginning to implement practical strategies that comply with the current design process, and facilitate their sustainable development. It will also include advise on monitoring, reporting and verification. 

Learn more and book your place by visiting this link!

The UK’s Independent Newspaper reports that an authoritative study by Omega, a coalition of experts on aviation and the environment based at leading British universities made some conclusions that carbon off-setting should be considered a reliable response to dealing with challenges of climate change. They say that “Offsetting schemes are conceptually problematic: they have arisen not from attempts by environmentalists and climate scientists to design an appropriate response [to climate change], but from politicians and business executives trying to meet the demands for action while preserving the commercial status quo.” (The Independent article can be found here)

Well, our view is that they are correct! 

However, we certainly do not live in an ideal world. We simply are not going to stop people flying, or driving their cars, or using electricity in their homes, etc. It is also a fact that airlines are commercial organisations so they need to preserve at least their “commercial stats quo” or they go out of business, and many jobs go with them. Some green lobbyists would like this to happen, but how many people, green or otherwise, would be prepared to not only lose flying but lose those things that pollute even more?! Stop using your car? Stop watching TV or using your computer at work or home? Heating your home? No! So, what to do?

1. Appropriate designs by scientists are essential. However, pending such design do we sit and wait? No, because overall it is beneficial to have people voluntarily offset their journey, even their whole lifestyles, if they wish to.

2. There are good offset schemes, and there are poor schemes. Do your research and ensure that the scheme is fully audited before you make an offset, ideally through the UN’s Carbon Development Mechanism umbrella and / or “Gold Standard” offered through some organisations.

3. Ultimately this should not really be a matter of relying on voluntary donations at all!  The climate crisis needs far more impact than just having 1% of passengers in a typical scheme offered by greener airlines to decide to offset their journeys! It needs intelligent governmental policy making and appropriate supporting legislation to comply polluters to pay for their pollution, help them change their behaviours and seek out greener alternatives. If the price of carbon is not in the economic equation or balance sheet of an airlines’ CFO then he is not going to worry so much about it.

4. The European Community’s decision to include aviation in their successful Emissions Trading Scheme from 2012 is definitely a step in the right direction! It is open, transparent, controlled through regulated exchanges, audited, etc. Passengers will have no need to so much worry about where their money is going, neither will the airlines.

5. Offsets and ETS are not ideal nor a replacement for positive pollution reductions, however they do make an important difference. That’s fact not fiction.

6. We are working on launching an appropriate response to this current predicament to be able to have a great solution in place before 2012. If you are an airline or a conscientious flyer, contact us for more information via our contact page.

Green Aviation International Association (GAIA) needs your help! 

GAIA started recently but is already rapidly expanding! We are being noticed around the world and getting great feedback, encouragement and numerous enquiries about what we do. We urgently need pro-active and knowledgeable volunteers to help answer the queries and help with our rapidly increasing workload, also help with fundraising and environmental projects!

If you can spare us a little of your time, or you know someone who can, contact us now! The best thing about helping GAIA is that because we are truly global you can potentially help us wherever you are in the world and fit it around your existing work or study life whilst helping to save the Environment!  Even if you do not have the time to help us directly, then just by mentioning our site “www.greenaviation.org” to your family, friends and colleagues will make a difference! Every little bit helps in saving the Environment!

But this is just the beginning, the launch phase, and we are going to do MUCH more to spread the message and promote what we do to anyone who flies or works in aviation, to be able to “turn aviation green”! So we need volunteers to help! We are also considering taking on Interns and staff to help progress specific projects.

We are especially keen to hear from you if you have a successful experience in non-profit fund-raising, in the “real” world and “virtual IM” world, regardless of sector, then contact us now!

We also need assistance to get the new Forums up and running next month, so if you are an aviation or environmental subject-matter expert and want to promote GAIA as well as give yourself a “world stage” let us know! 

We also envisage advertising specific roles in our organisation for full and part time positions and we will be certainly considering our team of volunteers for sure, as these opportunities arise.

Contact us now via the “contact” tab on this site and let us know your area of expertise and attach a resume if possible. Please be assured that we are covered under the stringent UK Data Protection Act, so we will not divulge your personal details to anyone outside the organisation.

GAIA will “turn aviation green”!

Aviation, the Environment & Emissions Trading, Renaissance Hotel Brussels, 19-20 November 2008

Aviation, the Environment & Emissions Trading will address the pressing environmental issues facing aviation today. What environmental regulations are coming into force in the next five years? How will the Emissions Trading Scheme affect your business? What can you do to comply with regulations whilst ensuring your company’s financial survival? What are other areas of the industry doing to help you achieve this? Experts from all sectors of the industry, including airlines, financiers, consultants, legal firms, OEMs, MROs and airports will provide practical advice to help you develop your environmental strategy. For more information, a full agenda and online booking, visit the conference website

Flying lessons, July 19th 2008

http://www.economist.com/blogs/theinbox/2008/07/flying_lessons_july_19th.cfm

SIR - Charlemagne is right to point out the wonderful benefits of aviation, indeed it is essential to global economic success. However the green issues caused by this incredible invention are very evident and the European Union is right to include airlines as major polluters in their Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2012.

We hear cries of “foul” echoing around the emptying terminals, hangars and airline offices as the industry contracts under the unprecedented weight of the price of fuel and the credit crunch. And those voices are also right; not only do airlines get hit with the costs of paying for their own infrastructure unlike other transport, but also pick up the bill for securing the system against terrorism.

So it’s hardly surprising the airlines feel they’ve once again been mugged, wallets stolen and kicked where it hurts. They need far more understanding, intelligent policies and more relevant cost allocation. But I see the ETS as different; the EU commits to ring fencing the money raised from CO2 permit auctions into green schemes.

Also ETS is already an effective financial instrument used in other polluting industries. Aviation is surely not as bad as other transport, but sooner or later aviation must clean up its own back yard. In fact the Australians are mulling the introduction of an ETS for all transport in 2010; the EU should also have included all transport.

ETS is no magic solution, but it will reduce carbon and other pollutants and combined with other sensible green initiatives is an important investment in our future. Together they are the ultimate in risk management schemes that one day can save the planet.

Andrew Pozniak
Managing Director
Green Aviation International
London

Press Release

“Green Aviation” welcomes European ETS proposal !

The recently established Green Aviation International Association has gone against the grain of general negative sentiment in the aviation industry by cautiously welcoming the EU’s confirmation to include aviation into the Emissions Trading Scheme from 2012.  Managing Director, Andrew F Pozniak, said “Whilst not an ideal proposal, and unfortunate timing as unprecedented fuel prices hurt the airlines, the EU is at least demonstrating leadership to tackle these vital green issues, unlike most other States around the world. The Governments (via ICAO) could have made an agreement for a Global ETS already, yet most of them continue to drag their heels.  The EU plan is a solid step in the right direction.  Emissions trading is already an effective financial instrument used in other polluting industries. It’s time for everyone to see what is really going on with Climate Change, join ‘Green Aviation International’ and make ETS a success.

Pozniak warns “If it wants to become zero-carbon by 2050, the aviation business must more seriously confront the issues of Climate Change and plan more effectively, not be at risk of wandering for the next 42 years. It also can’t allow its opponents an opportunity to compare them to King Canute’s fruitless attempt in commanding the incoming tide to reverse. The tide of Climate Change is already upon us, our feet are already getting wet, and by 2050 we’ll be submerged if we don’t work together on effective measures now!  It’s also no real sense in pointing at dirtier industries and crying “foul”; aviation must clean up its own backyard now, otherwise it will lead itself down a dark and blind alleyway where it will be mugged by those who see it as fair game!” He adds, “42 years is far too long, we owe it to future generations to do far more and achieve far earlier. Where there’s a will, green money, there’s a way. ”

Commenting upon the cost impacts of ETS he replied, “Unfortunately there is a price to pay if we are serious about fixing last century’s environmental irresponsibility and ignorance. That’s a tough message when oil prices are crippling many airlines, but ETS will happen, and these issues will simply not disappear. Any reduction in emissions due to the oil price and the credit crunch will only be temporary. As Guardians of the planet we must reduce all forms of pollution permanently. Fortunately emissions trading and green money are great mechanisms in helping to do that, together with other green initiatives. By quickly accepting that ETS is going to happen, aviation might even be able to reduce those cost impacts and certainly plan for them. Also let’s get a better perspective and see them in a more positive light – an investment in our future. For instance the EU proposal commits to ring-fence all revenues generated from auctioning of carbon allowances, to be used to fund research on cleaner aircraft and related initiatives. This is a whole lot better than being on the receiving end of a so-called green tax where the money goes into a bottomless pit, not into green schemes. The EU is going in the right direction, I welcome that.”

He further elaborated upon his views of the EU. “Despite some good intentions and work, the EU risks being perceived as making arbitrary decisions at the expense of airlines, especially at this critical time of unprecedented oil prices and pain for the airlines. To help remedy this it must far better explain its rationale for how the numbers and policies were arrived at and communicate them widely. We also need to consider additional mechanisms to ease the transition of the airlines into the ETS and we are developing some great ideas on that front to share with them.” He added “However it is also very unfortunate that we do not already today receive the massive fuel, cost and CO2 benefits of a European single-sky for Air Traffic Control. This was a great win-win to achieve.  Is there even a robust plan with milestones to really achieve it?  It is also hugely disappointing that other forms of transportation which are massively more polluting than aeroplanes are not required to be in the ETS, unlike Australia which recently announced plans for a Transport ETS from 2010 !  I hope the EU responds quickly to that”.

Pozniak then concludes “Aviation is a huge success story and is immensely important for humanity. It can remain both successful AND environmentally responsible through better leadership, better teamwork, better stakeholder management, more efficient operations, new technologies and fuels, leveraging financial instruments and the money markets with the massive potential power of green money. Aviation can become both lean and green.  I urge everyone to accept the reality of Climate Change and join GreenAviation as willing partners in delivering effective green aviation solutions. There is a great pool of talented people and organisations out there and together we can definitely crack these problems and make a huge green difference. We can ensure the success of EU ETS and all the other regional schemes. Over the coming weeks and months we will be delivering our innovative Green Aviation Action Plan that will be shared on our new web site at http://www.greenaviation.org next month”.  END

Note to editors below:

“Green Aviation International Association” was incorporated as a non-profit in April. It was established by a small team of experienced aviation business professionals who are concerned at the lack of truly effective progress in resolving the green problems in aviation’s own backyard. It believes that cooperation through the Green Aviation International Association will ultimately make the difference and because many other avenues are slipping or stalling.  It is not political beyond its environmental goals and maintaining a successful aviation industry for humanity. It’s funding does not come from any special interest groups but from voluntary donations, consulting engagements, project direction and management, and other upcoming products and services that will be rolled out. Surplus funds will be reinvested into green aviation and related projects.

Andrew Francis Pozniak is the Managing Director of Green Aviation International Association. He is not an environmental academic expert but he brings to the environmental arena much passion and business skills gained through 20 years as an aviation professional. He believes that a positive engagement, multi-partner, business-professional approach is the only way to successfully resolve aviation’s green issues and the other business problems. He will be presenting the GreenAviation™ and “Turning Aviation Green™ ” visions and solutions at upcoming conferences as well as in a new forum on the company’s web site next month.

For further information please email communications@greenaviation.org or visit http://www.greenaviation.org

Green Aviation International Association
10th July 2008