Lock away the climate killer forever

Airport - 51 billion tons of CO2 are released into the atmosphere every year.

This is fueling climate change and, above all, the associated rise in world temperature.

In addition to traffic, industry, households and agriculture, air traffic also contributes to this.

That should change.

With the position paper "Destination 2050 - A Route to Net Zero European Aviation", the European aviation industry, with airlines, airports, aerospace companies and air traffic control, presents an ambitious plan for how sustainable air traffic can be achieved in Europe.

In accordance with the Paris climate protection agreement and the European “Green Deal”, “Destination 2050” stipulates that all flights within the EU, Great Britain and EFTA by 2050 actually cause “net zero” CO2 emissions.

Four factors against climate change

Four measures are named with which emissions could be reduced “sustainably” over the next 30 years.

According to the paper, aircraft and engine technologies offer a CO2 saving potential of 37 percent.

The use of sustainable kerosene could contribute a further 34 percent.

If the industry is even more economical and efficient than it is today, another eight percent would be possible.

Improvements in air traffic management and flight operations - fewer holding patterns, short taxiways, for example - would offer savings of six percent.

Overall, the industry speaks of 92 percent.

The remaining eight would have to be removed from the atmosphere through negative emissions, either through carbon stores such as forests or converting CO2 through technologies.

Climate protection: Corporate objective at the airport since 2009

Munich Airport is one of the first to sign the resolution.

Here, the significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions has been defined as a corporate goal since 2009.

In this context, FMG boss Jost Lammers reaffirms efforts to operate Moos-Airport in a CO2-neutral manner by 2030 at the latest.

150 million euros have been made available for this.

However, so far there has been talk of compensating for 40 percent of this target through compensatory measures - preferably in the region.

The first successes have already been achieved: while the number of passengers in Munich rose from 28.6 million in 2005 to 48 million in 2019, according to the company, CO2 emissions were reduced from 5.67 to 3.08 kilograms per passenger during this period - 46 percent in 14 years.

And this despite the fact that the gross floor area has meanwhile increased by over 370,000 square meters due to the commissioning of the new satellite building in 2016.

280 individual measures

The airport has now implemented 280 individual measures.

According to FMG, around 3,000 tons of CO2 are saved every year through technical optimization and efficiency increases.

This includes new air curtains in Terminal 1, which lead to less heat loss and prevent more than 1000 tons of CO2 from being created in the first place.

A further 700 tonnes have been eliminated by optimizing the baggage handling system in Terminal 2.

The conversion of the air conditioning system to multi-engine technology in the Munich Airport Center has resulted in a reduction of 661 tons of CO2.

More and more electromobility

In addition, there is the expansion of electromobility - currently with 135 vehicles and 276 handling devices.

38 percent of the fleet is either electric or hybrid.

Fuels from renewable energies ("biofuels") are on the rise, according to FMG.

One example is a passenger bus that runs on liquid biomethane.

The entire apron lighting was switched to LED.

The strength of the spotlights, which consume much less energy, is adapted to the ambient light.

This technology is also gaining ground on streets, parking lots and buildings.

According to FMG, 16,400 tons of CO2 are saved in this way - every year.

The long-term goal of completely reducing all CO2 reductions by 2050 is even more ambitious.

"The emissions that then arise at the airport should no longer be compensated, but rather removed from the atmosphere through technological measures," said a spokesman.

FMG boss Lammers: Are on the right track

Lammers is convinced: “Both the European aviation industry and Munich Airport are well on the way to becoming climate neutral.” Regardless of the enormous challenges that the industry is facing due to the global pandemic and its consequences, “the trend towards sustainable aviation remains our most important future project ”.

With the initiative that has now been launched and the measures that have already been started, “we can also achieve our ambitious goals”, the airport boss is convinced.

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