The UK government is forecasting that aviation could account for around 21 per cent of Britain’s total carbon emissions by 2050. As demand for air travel soars so will the carbon ‘wing-print.’ Thankfully, the aviation industry is starkly aware of its responsibilities and major players in the East of England are piloting initiatives designed to counter this growing threat.
Aircraft manufacturers have already delivered impressive improvements in fuel efficiency over the past 30 years and expect further progress as engine design continues to evolve. European manufacturers have set a target for new aircraft in 2020 to be 50 per cent more efficient than were their equivalent at the dawn of the new Millennium.