Air New Zealand Abandons 2030 Carbon Target, Cites Supply Chain Issues, and More

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Air New Zealand Scraps 2030 Climate Goal

Air New Zealand has decided to abandon its ambitious 2030 carbon emissions reduction target, citing delays in the delivery of new, more fuel-efficient aircraft and challenges in sourcing sustainable aviation fuel.

The airline says it, however, remains committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

Key Points

• Ambitious 2030 Target: Air New Zealand initially set a goal in 2022 to reduce carbon emissions by 29% by 2030, significantly higher than the global aviation industry's target of 5%.

• Reasons for Abandonment:

  • Aircraft Delivery Delays: The airline faces significant delays in receiving new, more fuel-efficient aircraft due to global manufacturing and supply chain issues.

  • Sustainable Aviation Fuel: There are substantial challenges in the affordability and availability of sustainable aviation fuel, which is crucial for meeting the emissions targets.

  • Regulatory and Policy Challenges: Insufficient global and domestic regulatory and policy support further complicates achieving the set targets.

• Withdrawal from SBTi: Air New Zealand has withdrawn from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which provided a framework for setting and achieving science-based emissions reduction targets.

• New Near-Term Targets: The airline is working on establishing new short-term carbon emissions reduction targets that better reflect the current challenges.

• Commitment to 2050 Goal: Despite retracting the 2030 target, Air New Zealand says it remains committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

What It Means

Air New Zealand's decision to drop its 2030 carbon target underscores the significant hurdles the aviation industry faces in reducing emissions.

The delay in aircraft delivery and the limited availability of sustainable aviation fuels highlights the broader systemic issues that need to be addressed. This move may signal to other airlines the difficulties in meeting near-term climate goals without substantial advancements in technology and stronger regulatory frameworks.

While the commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 remains, achieving this will require innovative solutions and concerted efforts from all stakeholders in the aviation sector.

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