Disclaimer: This text reflects only the opinion of its author and does not in any way commit the official word of the French Air and Space Academy.
Courtesy of 3AF who have already published this article in its Newsletter n°44 of October 2020
By Eric Dautriat, 3AF member and vice-president of the French Air and Space Academy
The contribution of air transport to global warming, despite the long-standing existence of R&T programmes designed to reduce it, has long occupied a modest place on the strategic agenda of political leaders and operators (beyond the usual “keywords” of communication), as well as in the concerns of the general public. Continuous efforts to improve competitiveness through the gradual reduction of fuel consumption seemed to be sufficient.
However, recently, this contribution has become a political issue, through an “awareness” on the part of part of the European population, and in particular young people; often excessive, and which can be considered disproportionate. Air transport is attributed the role of a figurehead of blind and unbounded growth, an arrogant symbol of globalization, even an allegory of social inequalities…