UW to host summit on sustainable air travel

How to make air travel more sustainable long-term?

It's an issue academics, industry, and government representatives are hoping to find solutions to by meeting together in the fall.

The University of Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo are set to host a one-day Sustainable Aeronautics Summit at the regional airport's operational centre on October 5.

The theme is achieving social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

There will an educational program with speakers, as well as a trade show.

Some areas that will be looked at are: sustainable fuels, air traffic optimization, sustainable tourism, and remotely piloted aircraft systems.

The International Air Transport Association has set a target for airlines around the world to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Achieving that goal will depend on emerging technologies and practices, which do not yet exist,” said Suzanne Kearns, the director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics, which is leading the summit.

Rod Reiger, the region's commissioner of planning, development, and legislative services noted ongoing growth and increasing air traffic at the regional airport.

“We must also prioritize sustainability solutions associated with that growth,” he said.

“Events like this summit help us create new opportunities and innovations to benefit aviation and aerospace sustainability.”

Registration to the summit opens in August.

You can find more information here.