Aircraft
Aviation Chases Carbon Cutting Quantum Leap
With climate change metrics intensifying, air transport has a mountain to climb to achieve the legally-binding net-zero carbon requirement in 2050.
JetZero's Blended Wing Body airliner concept
JetZero says the high-lift-performance and reduced weight of its blended wing body airliner concept could cut carbon emissions by 50 percent. (Image: JetZero)

The countdown clock keeping track of how long aviation has got to eliminate damaging emissions keeps ticking, and more loudly than ever. The air transport industry has another 27 years to deliver on the net-zero carbon commitment in 2050, and yet at the 2023 Paris Air Show, many will wonder whether it really can break its dependence on fossil fuels.

The pressure is becoming unrelenting, with eco protestors anticipated at the Le Bourget event this week and governments showing a willingness to force the issue with measures such as France’s recent ban on domestic flights between cities for which a train journey takes less than two and a half hours.

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