Air New Zealand has scrapped its 2030 carbon emissions reduction targets, a move that underscores the aviation industry’s ongoing struggle to address climate change. The airline cited delays in building new planes, a lack of alternative fuel, and “challenging” regulations and policies as reasons for the withdrawal. This decision has been met with criticism from environmental groups, who argue that the aviation industry cannot be trusted to self-regulate.
Campaign group Stay Grounded argues that the aviation industry’s reliance on “silver bullets” like sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is preventing meaningful action. SAF is currently not feasible at the scale needed to significantly reduce emissions, and its reliance on this technology is delaying real progress. Air New Zealand’s decision to abandon its targets is a sign that the industry is not taking climate change seriously.
The airline’s withdrawal from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a UN framework for corporate climate action, is a major setback for the aviation sector. It highlights the difficulties airlines face in reducing their emissions, particularly given the industry’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Air New Zealand’s CEO, Greg Foran, acknowledged the challenges facing the airline, citing global manufacturing and supply chain issues that could slow the introduction of more fuel-efficient planes. He also pointed to the affordability and availability of SAF, and global and domestic policy settings, as factors outside the airline’s control.
Experts and environmental groups argue that the only solution for airlines to significantly reduce their emissions is to fly less. They advocate for strong government regulations to deter air travel, such as a frequent flyer levy, a tax on kerosene, airport caps, and an end to airport expansion.
Air New Zealand’s decision highlights the need for more ambitious climate action from both governments and the aviation industry. While the industry claims to be committed to net zero emissions by 2050, its reliance on unproven technologies and its failure to address the fundamental problem of over-flying indicate a lack of serious commitment to tackling climate change. The aviation sector needs to adopt a more radical approach to reducing its environmental impact, and governments must play a crucial role in enforcing stricter regulations to ensure that the industry is held accountable for its emissions.
