How Safe Landing is challenging the status quo for a greener future in aviation
May 2, 2024
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Finlay Asher, Co-founder of Safe Landing, discusses the challenges of balancing growth and sustainability in aviation, advocating for government intervention and carbon budgets. He emphasizes the importance of evidence-based analysis for Sustainable Aviation Fuels and calls for equity in emissions reductions. The podcast explores the need for a managed transition to promote sustainable aviation practices and highlights the role of developed nations in leading decarbonization efforts.
Holistic approach needed for sustainable aviation beyond efficiency improvements and demand reduction measures.
Balancing economic growth with environmental considerations crucial for sustainable aviation industry.
Transition to sustainable aviation fuels faces challenges requiring international collaboration, regulations, and equitable carbon budget distribution.
Deep dives
Concerns About Climate Impact on Aviation Industry
The podcast discusses the concern that climate impacts will affect the aviation industry in the foreseeable future. The guest, a former Rolls Royce engineer turned climate activist, emphasizes the need for the aviation industry to address sustainability to avoid a potential crash in the industry within the next 10-15 years. The main focus is on developing technologies that reduce emissions and enhance efficiency to mitigate the industry's environmental impact and ensure its long-term sustainability.
Challenges in Achieving Sustainable Aviation Growth
The conversation delves into the debate between growth and sustainability in the aviation sector. While advocating for sustainable growth, the discussion highlights the necessity of balancing economic growth with environmental considerations. The guest emphasizes the importance of rethinking traditional practices in aviation, such as optimizing aircraft efficiency, developing alternative fuels, and implementing policies that limit emissions to ensure a sustainable future for the industry.
Transitioning to a Sustainable Aviation Industry
The podcast explores the transition to a more sustainable aviation industry through technological advancements and policy changes. It discusses the potential shift towards slower but more energy-efficient air travel, redesigning airport infrastructure, and promoting alternative aircraft fuel sources like sustainable aviation fuels. The conversation emphasizes the importance of international collaboration, regulations, and equitable distribution of carbon budgets to drive the transformation towards a greener aviation sector.
Challenges in Transitioning to Sustainable Aviation Fuels
Transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels poses significant challenges due to the scale required and the limitations of human capabilities in project management. The podcast highlights the complexity of shifting to electrophiles fueled by renewables, indicating the need for extensive nuclear capacity and substantial financial investments globally to make this transition viable. Moreover, discussions revolve around the potential delay in decarbonization if massive additional loads from aviation compel the prolonged use of fossil fuels on the grid, underscoring the intricate balance between renewable energy allocations.
Taxation and Funding for Sustainable Aviation Development
The podcast delves into the taxation dynamics within the aviation sector, showcasing variations in tax regimes across different countries. By examining examples like Canada and India, it emphasizes the importance of leveraging taxes and levies to direct funds towards sustainable aviation development. The discussion highlights the need to repurpose existing levies, like departure taxes, to support mandates for sustainable aviation fuels and emphasizes the significance of creative taxation strategies to drive environmental sustainability within the aviation industry.
In this episode, we talk to Finlay Asher, co-founder of Safe Landing, a global community of aviation workers who are working within the sector to reduce the climate impact of aviation.
Asher emphasises the need for a holistic approach to sustainable aviation, which goes beyond efficiency improvements and includes demand reduction measures. He touches upon the challenges of balancing growth and sustainability in the aviation industry, highlighting the need for government intervention and the enforcement of carbon budgets to ensure a managed transition.
The potential and limitations of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) are also discussed, with Asher calling for evidence-based analysis and prioritisation of decarbonisation efforts. He stresses the importance of equity and fairness in aviation decarbonisation, advocating for a progressive allocation of carbon-constrained growth and the need for developed nations to lead the way in emissions reductions.
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Hiske Arts, Campaigner at Fossielvrij NL, who discusses the climate activists’ scepticism about the aviation industry’s commitment to addressing climate concerns. Check it out here.
Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.
Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.
