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Air travel is an integral part of modern life, vital to the global economy and valued by the travelling public. The continued growth in the demand for air travel worldwide presents major environmental challenges. The launch of the Sustainable Aviation strategy, the world's first sustainability strategy for the aviation sector, signals industry's commitment to deliver environmental improvement, alongside continued economic growth and social responsibility.

air travel and climate change

- Globally, air travel represents about 2 per cent of manmade carbon dioxide (CO₂₎ emissions.

- Total departing flights from airports represented 6.3 per cent of total UK CO₂ emissions in 2004.

- Total UK CO₂ emissions are about 2 per cent of global emissions.

environmental track record

- Industry has delivered a 50 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency in the last 30 years.

- Industry has delivered a 75 per cent reduction in noise nuisance in the last 30 years.

- Through the introduction of quieter planes the noise contour area around Heathrow has shrunk - reducing the population exposed to significant disturbance by 85 per cent between 1974 and 2000.

sustainable aviation

?Sustainable Aviation' is a comprehensive programme for long-term reductions in aviation's impact on the environment and was developed by the 's leading airlines, airports, aerospace manufacturers and air traffic controllers. This pioneering initiative, unique in global aviation, commits companies to a joint strategy to deliver radical cuts in carbon dioxide emissions, nitrogen oxide emissions and aircraft noise over the next 15 years.

The ?Sustainable Aviation' strategy establishes mechanisms for monitoring and regular reporting of progress toward a range of specific objectives. These include:

- Limiting climate change impact by improving fuel efficiency and CO₂ emissions by per cent per seat kilometre by 2020 compared with 2000 levels.

- Improving air quality by reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 80 per cent over the same period.

- Lowering the perceived external noise of new aircraft by 50 per cent by 2020 compared with their 2000 equivalents.

- Establishing a common system for the reporting of total CO₂ emissions and fleet fuel efficiency by the end of 2005, and pressing for aviation's inclusion in the EU emissions trading scheme at the earliest possible date.

- Airport plans for community-related noise limitations, including landing and take-off restrictions where necessary.

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