Air Canada announced that it is tackling the issue of rising CO2 emissions from commercial aviation as a founding member of the Aviation Climate Taskforce (ACT).
The new, non-profit organization, is made up of ten global airlines and the Boston Consulting Group, with Air Canada as the first Canadian airline to join.
ACT was established to accelerate research and advance innovation related to decarbonization technologies, including through the development of sustainable aviation fuels.
"Air Canada is highly focused on its environmental performance and has committed to reduce its footprint further by setting a target of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer at Air Canada.
“Combatting global warming requires a global response, and we are pleased to be the first Canadian airline to join the Aviation Climate Taskforce. As a founding member, we will work with other global carriers and invest in emerging technologies to advance the decarbonization of our sector and build a long-term, sustainable aviation industry," he added.
Air Canada has committed to invest up to CAD $50m in alternative fuels and carbon reductions as part of the airline’s target goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions throughout its global operations by 2050. According to a press release, a portion of the investment will be done through ACT.
Aviation Climate Taskforce
According to a release, the non-profit coalition will support the advancement of emerging technologies through two pillars, an Innovation Network and Collaboration Forum.
The Innovation Network will use “proven tools” to identify collaboration opportunities across the ecosystem, and provide grant funding as well as utilize challenge platforms to tackle barriers for sustainable efforts. The Collaboration Forum will identify other ways to expedite the adoption and scale-up of next generation sustainable technologies.
For more information on the Aviation Climate Taskforce, visit its web site.
