The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is working with stakeholders in the country’s aviation sector to implement aviation projects and initiatives to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
In his speech during the 3rd International Civil Aviation Organization–European Union Aviation Safety Agency (ICAO-EASA) Forum on Tuesday, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said these are projects such as the promotion of biofuels or sustainable aviation fuels and nature-based carbon sink projects.
“We partnered with a top local university to create opportunities for local carbon sink projects that would become a source of local air carriers’ emission offsetting requirements,” Bautista said.
He said the regulatory function of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) over the development, expansion, and modernization of commercial airports would be strengthened.
“We hope to discover practical and sustainable solutions on safety regulations, inspector training as well as tools for safety oversight,” he added.
Civil aviation regulatory agencies in Europe and Southeast Asia, he said, must agree on a course of action towards safe and sustained connectivity to achieve the net-zero emission goal.
“This enhanced cooperation among civil aviation regulatory agencies in Europe and Southeast Asia would hopefully lead to improved aviation safety and environmental sustainability while strengthening our resilience to shocks and disruptions in the region,” Bautista said.
He emphasized that the forum helps by setting clear steps to achieve the net-zero emission goal of the global aviation industry by 2050.
“Philippine aviation is brimming with hope that today’s collaborations will not only synergize our respective endeavors towards sustained connectivity but also inspire to achieve regional inter-operability, a single aviation market, a seamless ASEAN sky and full-throttle industry digitalization,” he said.
To date, air traffic in 2023 rose 36.9 percent compared to 2022, and was at 94.1 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
By 2041, global air traffic is expected to reach 19.3 billion passengers, 200 million tons of cargo, and 153.8 million aircraft movements. (PNA)
