By Mohamed Attia
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in line with the national strategy for climate change and facing the negative repercussions of climate change, and in conjunction with Egypt’s hosting of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, seeks to implement an integrated strategy towards environmental issues and climate change.
Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Abbas confirmed that the ministry is keen to implement this strategy by transforming Egyptian airports into “environmentally friendly” airports by using renewable energy, rationalising the use of electricity and relying on solar energy.
The minister added that Egypt is also seeking to reduce emissions from aircraft and use biofuels to reach the lowest amount of carbon emissions, while adhering to all instructions and recommendations issued by international civil aviation organisations in accordance with the objectives of the National Strategy for Climate Change 2050, through which the Egyptian state aims to reduce and confront the repercussions of climate change.
For his part, Yehia Zakaria, head of EgyptAir, said that the national company has a strategy in the field of sustainable development and the environment to reduce carbon emissions and reduce environmental pollution, starting with the process of modernising the fleet and procedures for reducing weight on the plane and reducing the use of single-use plastic on board its flights.
The company has made many trips with environmentally friendly services, in addition to recycling waste in order to achieve the ambitious goals of sustainable development.
Zakaria added, “We are fully aware that alternative fuels are an industry that is still in its first steps, and that it is a vital industry for the future of aviation and will play an important role in achieving this ambitious goal for the aviation industry.”
Zakaria pointed out that organising EgyptAir operating the first commercial flight for the national carrier with sustainable aviation fuel is a starting point that he hopes to develop in the future, as ambitions are much more than just one flight, stressing that one of the main elements to achieving this goal is to work closely with partners who can help develop a strong sustainability agenda.
Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport had received the first commercial flight for EgyptAir using “sustainable aviation fuel” coming from Charles de Gaulle Airport with 132 passengers from the delegations of the countries participating in the COP27 climate conference, in co-operation with Neste, one of the world’s largest leading companies in the world in the field of sustainable aviation fuel production.
Neste is a world-leading producer of sustainable jet fuel, and they are committed to supporting customers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 million tons per year by 2030.
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