New Zealand, like many other countries, has invested heavily in environmental laws that can protect its biodiversity for the good of its future generations. After all, climate change has reared its head over the past few decades, and countries are working hard and fast to turn things around. Seeing the good that can come from these environmental laws, many industries in New Zealand have followed suit by coming up with guidelines that can help them comply with the national laws. And the aviation industry is no different. Stakeholders in this industry have realized that the best way to keep their operations running sustainably is to follow its codes of practice. We explain what they are and the benefits they hold.
What Codes of Practice Exist?
Environmental codes of practice, whether in aviation or any other industry, focus on identifying environmental risks and coming up with ways to avoid or mitigate them. Since they are industry-specific, it's up to the stakeholders in each industry to look at the risks that face them and work together to come up with recommendations that they can all follow. The interesting thing about these codes of practice is that they are not legally binding. In fact, an organization can choose not to follow the principles and would not be at risk of legal repercussions. Even so, many organizations operating in the aviation industry choose to follow these recommendations as a way to demonstrate their commitment to conserving the environment. So, which are these practices?
Sustainable Fuels
Many studies have shown that traditional jet fuel emissions are responsible for much of what we term as climate change in the modern day. Luckily, operators in the aviation industry have realized that they can rely on alternative fuels from renewable sources and can reduce their emissions by over 50%. While research on these alternatives is underway, many airlines have been open about their readiness to adopt these alternatives.
Efficient Aircraft
Older aircraft designs are known to consume a lot of fuel. And as we have seen, these fuels play a role in carbon emissions. While using better fuel alternatives is a great way to address this issue, operators have also found that upgrading airplane engines and designs also plays a key role in reducing these emissions. The more efficient the designs are, the less fuel the aircraft use, and the fewer their emissions. Over time, these changes add up to big wins.
Optimized Flight Paths
Fuel use depends on the flight path. For example, the longer a plane spends idling on the runway, the more fuel it uses. Operators have found that they can cut back on this fuel use by coming up with better flight paths that not only reduce the time spent in the air but also the distances covered. As a plus, it will also save them money, and their passengers will not mind saving time on their trips.
Better Waste Management
Aircraft don't just pollute the environment with their emissions. Have you ever thought about all the waste that takes place in aircraft? Think of all the single-use items you come across on each flight, from the plates to bottles to electronics. Many of these end up in landfills. But this is slowly coming to an end as operators are now working on reusing and recycling these items.
It's important to note that while the above are voluntary measures, stakeholders in the aviation industry rely on national laws as well as international obligations when coming up with these practices.
Why Do These Codes Exist?
For an island nation, New Zealand is responsible for quite a large volume of carbon emissions, which result from its aviation industry. After all, the tourism and exports industries rely greatly on air transport. And the more that people visit this island or source fresh foods from it, the more the emissions increase. The codes of practice thus come into play in protecting the environment. As we fight climate change, we must also address the main sources of greenhouse gases, including the aviation industry. And New Zealand especially ranks high compared to other countries when it comes to aviation emissions. Additionally, while the codes of practice are largely voluntary, operators in the aviation industry must still comply with international standards.
There is also the business perspective. As more people become more aware of the effects of their actions on the environment, organizations with good environmental practices will gain a good reputation, which will earn them more traffic and revenue.
