Adnkronos Rome, 28 Nov. (Adnkronos) – Revolutionizing the aviation sector, transforming it from one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize to a model of environmental and economic sustainability: this is the mission at the heart of the third annual Congress of the Pacta Foundation – Pact for the Decarbonization of Air Transport, held today in Rome. The event brought together key figures in the sector, from airlines to aircraft manufacturers, from airport managers and players to large energy companies, in front of regulatory bodies and institutions, in a platform for dialogue and innovation that aims to rewrite the rules of air transport that protects the growth of the sector with the goal of full reconciliation with the environment.
Among the proposals put forward by the Foundation, initiatives emerge to push for the adoption of Saf (Sustainable Aviation Fuels), biofuels that are essential to cut CO2 emissions without sacrificing the growth of air traffic. These biofuels - produced from waste oils, animal fats and biomass - can reduce emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional fuels but, for increasing adoption, they require broader economic support.
The Pacta Foundation, promoted by Aeroporti di Roma, a virtuous example of Italian best practice recently present at COP29 in Baku, represents a unique alliance between 17 industrial, institutional and academic partners. The common goal: to reduce emissions from a so-called “hard-to-abate” sector, which currently accounts for 2-3% of the global total, and to reach the Net Zero Emissions goal by 2050, positioning Italy as a leader in the sustainable transition of air transport.
Pacta also highlighted the need to support research on new-generation aircraft, whether electric, hydrogen or hybrid, technologies that will revolutionize regional and medium-haul flights in the coming decades. In parallel, measures were proposed to incentivize investments in green energy, including electrochemical storage systems and the hydrogen and biomethane supply chain for integration into airport and industrial systems.
The Congress also put the spotlight on the transformation of airports into sustainable hubs: from the decarbonization of operating fleets to the facilitation of energy efficiency interventions, through the optimization of air traffic. A strategic focus was also dedicated to intermodality, with proposals to enhance the railway infrastructures that connect airports and develop single tickets that integrate air and land transport, improving connectivity and reducing emissions related to mobility. The Foundation will offset the CO2 emissions generated by the travel of Congress participants by purchasing Saf for Ita Airways flights, thus reducing emissions to the same extent.
“The decarbonisation of aviation is not an option, it is a collective responsibility, and the Pacta Foundation demonstrates once again that it is possible to address it with a systemic approach. Our reality, which unites leading companies, institutions and the academic world, represents a cross-sector partnership that, with few equals in the world, is defining, together, a concrete roadmap for Net Zero. These policy proposals are not theoretical, but represent practical tools designed to support institutions in bridging the gap between ambitions and implementation. The goal is to accelerate a sustainable transition that not only reduces emissions, but guarantees economic growth and positions Italy as a global reference. Flying less is not the solution and sustainability is not a constraint, but rather the key to a fairer future, in which the environment and progress are part of the same strategic vision” declared Marco Troncone, President of the PactA Foundation and CEO of Aeroporti di Roma.
“SAFs are currently the only real viable alternative to achieve effective decarbonisation according to the objectives of Regulation 2023/2405. They still have higher costs than current fuels, but we trust that also through common EU policies, tools similar to those already adopted by other nations can be adopted to allow full use of these fuels, thus avoiding compromising citizens' right to mobility” declared the Hon. Galeazzo Bignami, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport.
"It is an honor and pleasure for me, as President of Enac and President of the Institutional Committee of the Pacta Foundation, to open this congress from which emerges, with force, the need for a common commitment in favor of decarbonization with a pragmatic and non-ideological approach, taking into account, moreover, that Europe is responsible for 6/7% of pollution in the world and air transport for an absolutely marginal share. First of all, I would like to thank the CEO Marco Troncone for the report presented and for the commitment with which he is helping to overcome the ideological prejudice towards the sector, something also clearly evident in his participation in COP29 in Baku, where he demonstrated how the Italian system knows how to work together and how it represents best practice at an international level. A special thanks also to Deputy Minister Bignami who carefully follows the evolution of environmental policies sharing the focus on sustainability not only environmental, but also economic and social. The path we are taking, thanks also to the synthesis between public and private represented by Enac, allows us to develop useful collaborations with other countries, including emerging ones, through an approach that also guarantees economic and sustainable growth.” added Pierluigi Di Palma, President of Enac and President of the Institutional Committee of the Pacta Foundation.
“Sustainability is one of the fundamental pillars of Ita Airways’ industrial plan, and our mission is to be an efficient, innovative airline fully oriented towards a sustainable future,” said Antonino Turicchi, President of Ita Airways. “In this direction, since our birth, we have invested in the development of the fleet, today the youngest among the legacy carriers in Europe, with an average age of 7 years, 4,6 years lower than the European average of network carriers and 2,2 years lower than low-cost carriers. In this path, we recognize in SAF an essential element for the decarbonization of aviation, but we believe that it should not be considered just a commodity but a real investment. This vision requires a systemic and structured approach, in which the public sector, at national and European level, uses adequate resources and tools to support all the actors who promote the concrete use of SAF. The ability of aviation to concretely reduce carbon emissions and contribute to global climate objectives depends on this investment.”
