Global airlines call for emissions help in long-haul to net-zero

Global airlines called on Tuesday for broad co-operation to reach “very tough” emission targets and pledged to release interim climate targets next year as the industry aims for a goal of net-zero by 2050.

Aviation, which produces around 2% of the world’s emissions, is considered one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), grouping 300 airlines and representing about 80% of global traffic, said governments, planemakers and regulators must all help.

“We are totally committed to achieving our net zero targets in 2050,” IATA Director General Willie Walsh said at the end of a three-day summit in Istanbul.