ATA testifies to green improvements

As the aviation industry struggles with high fuel prices along with pressure over its polluting ways, the Air Transport Association of America has testified before the American House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that the US airline industry has made significant progress in curbing CO2 emissions.

ATA officials said that initiatives and programs set forth by the airline industry have resulted in a drastic decrease in emissions, and the American aviation industry now accounts for only 2 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions from the country, with more attempts at reduction to follow. They cite that the transportation industry is accountable for 25 percent.

President of the ATA James C. May says, “Commercial aviation in the United States is demonstrably committed to protecting the environment. Over the past 30 years, we have improved our fuel efficiency by 110 percent, resulting in 2.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide savings – roughly equivalent to taking 18.7 million cars off the road each of those years. This is no small achievement, given that commercial aviation is essential to our economy and supports nearly 9 percent of U.S. employment.”

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