Air France is working on the reducing its CO2 emissions and has just launched a journey towards this goal called "Air France ACT". It includes :
- give priority to reducing the direct emissions generated byAir France,
- reduce indirect emissions, upstream and downstream of the company's activities,
- make additional contributions to projects that remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
- " Air France ACT" embodies the transparent, realistic and science-based approach adopted by the company to ensure its environmental transition through concrete and measurable actions.
Air France acknowledges that decarbonising aviation will be difficult and time-consuming because it involves countless partners in the air transport chain.
30 % reduction in CO2 emissions per passenger-km by 2030
The new decarbonisation path aims to a 30 % reduction in CO2 emissions per passenger-kilometre by 2030 emissions by 2019. This target does not include so-called "offsetting" actions, so as to focus only on concrete reduction actions. This reduction of 30% corresponds to a effective reduction of 12 % of total emissions between 2019 and 2030. In comparison, thehe reduction reached 6% between 2005 and 2019.
This trajectory is based on the calculation methodology of the independent body SBTi (Science-Based Target initiative), to which it was submitted. Founded by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact and the World Wildlife Fund, SBTi has drawn up a target decarbonisation trajectory for the aviation sector. The aim is still to limit global warming to below +2°C.
Zero net emissions by 2050
Around 2050, Air France aims for net zero emissions. In other words, a drastic reduction in emissions combined with projects that remove from the atmosphere each year a volume of CO2 equivalent to the residual emissions. The company is working to define a precise and verifiable decarbonisation trajectory for 2050, based on a set of assumptions - notably traffic trends. The exercise will be open-ended, taking into account the current scientific context.
To achieve your goals, Air France activates all the decarbonisation levers at its disposal.
– Fleet renewal with new-generation aircraft. The Airbus A220 and A350 are more fuel-efficient. They emit up to 25 % less CO2, and their noise footprint is reduced by 33 % on average. By 2030, these aircraft will account for 70 % of the fleet. Air France compared with 7 % today. This represents an investment of one billion euros a year between now and 2025.
– Increased use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) generate an average reduction in CO2 emissions of 80 % over the fuel's life cycle. Since 2022, Air France incorporates the equivalent of 1 % of Sustainable Aviation Fuel on its flights from France. By 2030, the company is aiming to have incorporated at least 10 % and 63 % by 2050.
– The practice of eco-piloting. These include the use of a single engine during taxiing whenever possible, optimised flight paths thanks to artificial intelligence or continuous descent in collaboration with air traffic control. These initiatives enable an average reduction of 2 to 3 % in CO2 emissions.
– Developing intermodalityThe aim is to offer low-carbon transport alternatives for short-distance journeys. This means strengthening the partnership between Air France and SNCF.
– Introducing more responsible catering. This is reflected in the selection of local and seasonal products. But also the pre-selection of dishes before the flight in the Business cabin on long-haul flights to combat food waste. By the end of 2022, Air France will have eliminated 90 % of single-use plastics compared to 2018, after replacing plastic cups, cutlery and other sticks with sustainable alternatives in 2019.
Air France explains its commitments in a video campaign and a dedicated website for the general public, " Air France ACT ".
"Everything is speeding up and changing very quickly"." At Air France today, do you tell your staff to take the train? ". The question, which is as full of meaning as it is piquant, comes from Carole Poillerat (Comsense), who acted as master of ceremonies on 13 April at theEVP 2022 organised by American Express GBT. It was addressed to Vincent Etchebeherewhich is none other than the Director of Sustainable Development and New Mobilities at Air France. And this less than five hours after the announcement of the ACT Air France. " Yes, in part... "Vincent Etchebehere concedes, before underlining the educational efforts made within the carrier. " Even before knowing what Air France's sustainable development strategy and objectives are, our employees want to know more about global issues and the mechanisms of climate change. (...) That's why, since the end of 2020, we have deployed the Climate frescocollective intelligence workshops based on IPCC data ".  As for the prospects for progress, Vincent Etchebehere was keen to point out that ". a few orders of magnitude, some elements of a reading grid ". " In terms of decarbonisation levers, eco-piloting represents 2 to 3% of annual emissions reduction. Fleet renewal, with each new-generation aircraft representing 20 to 25% less CO2. And sustainable aviation fuels, SAFs, and this is why they are a decisive lever in the decarbonisation of air transport, represent 80 % less CO2 emissions over the entire life cycle of the fuel. "underlines the Director of Sustainable Development and New Mobilities. If thehydrogen-powered aircraft does not seem viable for this decade - " rather to thehorizon 2035-2037 "analyses Vincent Etchebehere - the SAF could rapidly gain momentum. " Everything is speeding uphe assures us. Everything is changing very fast, particularly with the regulatory aspects. (...) The challenge for us in the short term is to have sufficient volumes to meet demand from our corporate customers, because this is very important for them too. This is particularly true for companies committed to SBTi (Science Based Targets), which can deduct SAF from their emissions reduction trajectory. So demand and volumes are growing, and you can count on us to keep pushing our friends in the energy industry to get things moving even faster. ". |
