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| Press release
Aviation professionals speak out on climate
Launch of global ‘Call Aviation to Action’ movement for industry transformation
Today, a leading group of aviation professionals launches a call to action to urgently and decisively address the aviation industry’s growing climate impact. The group is concerned that without a fundamental transition, the industry is risking its own future. A global coalition of aviation professionals is calling for urgent and decisive leadership to address the industry’s growing climate impact. The group warns that without immediate action, the aviation industry is heading toward crisis. They urge leaders to seize the opportunity to transform aviation for a sustainable future.
An intervention based on passion for flying and concern for the planet
Call Aviation to Action aims to unite aviation professionals who are torn between their passion for flying and their concern for the planet.
“We see the good that aviation can do, but we also see that we must reinvent our industry to restore its positive contribution to the world. Aviation is struggling to turn a profit, trapped in growth models and is overly optimistic about the timelines for technology to solve its climate problems. We understand the challenges leaders face, but staying in this race is not an option. Aviation must take control of its transformation before it is forced to.” — Karel Bockstael, co-founder of the initiative, former Vice President of Sustainability at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Four actions for 2025 to reinvent aviation
Based on scientific consensus, the group states that the current path aviation is in cannot be sustained. After performing a thorough analysis, four urgent actions the industry must take by 2025 were identified:
- Set absolute emission reduction targets in line with carbon budgets, and acknowledge the aviation industry’s responsibility for cumulative emissions – as these are the ones that drive global warming.
- Advocate for and help implement regulation that keeps us within planetary boundaries and really drives innovation, rather than lobbying against climate policies.
- Be realistic on the timeline of what technology can bring, and develop a business model that can ensure its sustainability on its own, in time and independent of breakthroughs elsewhere.
- Acknowledge that managing global demand in a fair manner is part of the solution especially in regions that have a larger share in historic CO2 emissions.
Kickstarting the transition together
Core to the movement are the individual actions that professionals working in the aviation ecosystem can take. Speaking up at work is the first one, as illustrated by Karel Bockstael: “We know a lot of people are concerned about the future of our industry and the planet, but mistakenly assume their peers do not. We need to break the silence to address these concerns and encourage our leaders to become part of this transition.”
“Acknowledging that this can be an inconvenient wake-up call, the initiative focuses on mutual support and community-building to help the industry gather the courage and support it needs to transform, for its own benefit.”
What’s new?
Find our latest publications and insights below. Questions? Please get in touch or browse frequently asked questions about our initiative and about our analysis and position.
For press enquires, please reach out to Jimena through community@callaviationtoaction.org or +31 684614483.
452
people have already joined our call
Why others support our call
“Aviation is fascinating and relevant. I can’t wait to see the aviation industry leadership finally getting real about the climate crisis and mobilising the imagination and courage from which flying was born in the first place. The climate can has been kicked down the road for too long.”
Jan-Ernst de Groot, Former managing director and member of the executive board of KLM / Initiator of the 2006 call for aviation climate action
“Aviation is not the only industry that needs to change. But if we wait for other sectors of society to decarbonise first, it will be too late. Aviation is often described as a “hard to decarbonise” sector. If we face up to the challenge, we remove the excuses that other industry sectors can use to delay their own necessary changes.”
Patrick Edmond, Chief Marketing Officer @ Future Energy Global
“For years, we’ve been dreaming about having a network of aviation professionals that are spread over the industry, all wanting to make a positive change towards making the aviation industry less polluting. This call to action comes at exactly the right time, to give all of these motivated people the necessary backing and mental support to continue driving change from inside the world’s biggest aviation companies!”
Louis Lammertyn, Co-founder @ BookBetter
“In every aviation professional who cares so much for the values of flight, there is always serious concern about climate change and our growing impact. That is my takeaway from more than a hundred conversations. Now the time has come to acknowledge this together, as an aviation community, and call for a change of course that keeps us within planetary boundaries, full of innovation and less dependent on growth.”
Karel Bockstael, Former Vice President Sustainability @ KLM
“Navigating climate turbulence requires a plan: Moving from fragmentation and polarisation to timely, coherent implementation must be grounded in a shared vision and aligned pathways to inform planning. This Call to Action marks the first step toward a shared vision. The next step is to develop pathways. Let’s build these together—drawing on valuable sustainable aviation initiatives, openness to rethink mobility, and rooted in justice principles for an aviation sector that operates within planetary boundaries.”
Udeke Huiskamp, Transdisciplinary research manager @ Utrecht University Pathways to Sustainability Program | Former Director Sustainability @ KLM
“In our tremendously successful drive for efficiency, we’ve painted ourselves into a corner – a corner we need to get out of if we truly want to address the climate impact of our industry. I’m excited to see passionate professionals join forces in this initiative to transform aviation. Let’s get started with another pioneering age!”
Bram Peerlings, Researcher aviation sustainability
The sooner we start this transformation, the better. For our industry, as well as for the planet. The sooner we start, the more time we have available for experimentation, and for the inevitable trial and error we will face. The later we act, the more of our carbon budget we will already have spent, and the more pressure we will face to get it right in one go.