Airbus' decreasing carbon emissions objectives have been verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
Airbus, the European aerospace giant, has announced a comprehensive plan to lead the decarbonisation of the aviation sector. The company's targets are in line with a 1.5°C pathway and aim to ensure aviation can continue to play its precious role in society while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO, stated that the company is committed to reducing by 46% the greenhouse gas emissions intensity generated by its commercial aircraft in service (Scope 3 - Use of Sold Product) by 2035. This reduction target has been submitted for assessment and validation by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
In a significant move, Airbus received approval from the SBTi for its greenhouse gas emissions near-term reduction targets. The targets, based on the 2015 year as a baseline, align with the Paris Agreement goals.
To achieve these science-based targets, Airbus plans to meet them by implementing disruptive aircraft technological innovations aimed at decreasing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 technology. The company also aims to ensure readiness of these innovations to support new products that replace 75% of the operating fleet by 2050, paving the way for climate-neutral aviation by 2050.
Specifically, Airbus is focusing on developing and integrating new aircraft technologies that are significantly more efficient and climate-friendly. The goal is to launch these disruptive innovations as new aircraft products and services by 2035.
Moreover, Airbus is collaborating in the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, a European initiative that supports these targets by driving research and innovation across the aviation sector. This collaboration bridges academia, industry, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to foster climate-neutral aviation research and technology development.
In addition, Airbus is leveraging sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) through strategic partnerships. One such partnership is with TotalEnergies, aimed at boosting the supply and use of SAF, which is critical for reducing emissions in the medium term.
The approval for Airbus's science-based targets was given in February 2023. This approval comes after Airbus committed to defining science-based targets for its entire set of emissions in 2022.
Mr. Faury also stated that Airbus is determined to achieve the set targets and invest in solutions to decarbonise the industry. The company intends to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 industrial emissions by up to 63% by 2030, in line with a 1.5°C pathway.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) was established in 2015. It is a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). More than 4,000 companies worldwide have joined the SBTi since its inception.
[1] Airbus (2023). Airbus's Science Based Targets. Retrieved from https://www.airbus.com/innovation/sustainable-aerospace/science-based-targets.html [3] TotalEnergies (2023). TotalEnergies and Airbus to collaborate on sustainable aviation fuels. Retrieved from https://www.totalenergies.com/en/media/press-releases/2021/totalenergies-and-airbus-to-collaborate-on-sustainable-aviation-fuels.html
- Guillaume Faury, the CEO of Airbus, stated that their science-based targets aim to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions intensity from their commercial aircraft by 46% (Scope 3 - Use of Sold Product) by 2035.
- Airbus is also planning to ensure that innovations aiming to decrease net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compare to 2020 technology are ready to support new products that replace 75% of the operating fleet by 2050.
- In order to achieve the science-based targets, Airbus is collaborating with various entities, including TotalEnergies, in projects aimed at boosting the supply and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), a critical step in reducing emissions in the medium term.
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