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By 2035 passenger numbers are forecast to reach 7.2 billion. The air transport industry has stepped up to the challenge of doing that sustainably. Aviation’s goal is to stabilize net emissions from 2020 with carbon neutral growth. And by 2050 we will cut our net emissions to half the levels of 2005. We will achieve these goals with a combination of technology improvements, better operations and more efficient infrastructure. These measures, however, will not come in time to realize carbon neutral growth from 2020.So the industry united to ask governments to impose a global Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (also known as CORSIA) from 2020. Under the leadership of ICAO, governments agreed. And that historic achievement was reached at the ICAO building in Montreal, Canada, in October last year.Pause and think about this. I am not aware of any other industry that has asked to be regulated in a similar way and with real costs. It is quite remarkable. This gives aviation a strong platform to make demands on governments—to replace environmental taxes and charges with CORSIA, to remove inefficiency from air traffic management and to incentivize the use of sustainable alternative fuels.ABOUT THE AUTHORAlexandre de Juniac became the seventh person to lead the International Air Transport Association (IATA) when he took on the role of Director General and CEO from 1 September 2016. Mr de Juniac has almost three decades of experience in both the private and public sectors. This includes senior positions in the airline and aerospace industries and the French government. He served as Chairman and CEO of Air France-KLM (2013-2016) and prior to that as Chairman and CEO of Air France (2011-2013). Under Mr de Juniac’s leadership Air France and Air France-KLM underwent a successful restructuring that improved efficiency and strengthened performance. He has also served on the IATA Board of Governors (2013-2016). Mr de Juniac has also held positions in the French government. His career began with the Conseil d’Etat (State Council) from 1988 to 1993. Subsequently, he served in the Department of Budget (1993-1995); and in the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment as Chief of Staff to then Minister Christine Lagarde (2009-2011). He is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique de Paris and Ecole Nationale de l’Administration. At IATA he works from both the association’s main offices in Montreal, Canada, and Geneva, Switzerland. ■“BY 2035 PASSENGER NUMBERS ARE FORECAST TO REACH 7.2 BILLION. THE AIR TRANSPORT INDUSTRY HAS STEPPED UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF DOING THAT SUSTAINABLY ”Right: Alexandre de JuniacBottom left: Emissions reduction roadmapAVIATION 111