ABSTRACT
The previous chapter presented the scale of the challenge faced by all nations and all sectors in mitigating CO2 emissions and addressing climate change. The aviation sector cannot be an exception given the scale and rate of growth of its emissions coupled with the urgency and magnitude of the action required to avoid ‘dangerous climate change’. This chapter discusses the current and future technological and operational opportunities within the aviation sector to improve fuel efficiency and carbon intensity. Although it is widely accepted there will be no step change in technology to bring about a reduction in emissions in real terms within the coming decade, nevertheless, new momentum to recognise and address the urgent climate change issue may now be accelerating innovation within the aviation industry. One indisputable issue of specific relevance to this sector is the long lag in bringing about change given the lifetime of current aircraft. Furthermore, those aircraft designs currently coming into service began their developmental life before environmental pressures rose significantly up the political agenda.1 This chapter summarises some of the technological and operational options available for improving the efficiency and carbon intensity of aviation, potential deployment timescales and the likelihood or otherwise of their early adoption.
