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Flightpath.
A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO AIRLINE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT WITH IEnvA
A
lthough climate change is a key focus of the industry’s environmental work, more down-to-earth issues remain. Many airlines have recognised the benefits of an environmental management system (EMS), but the traditional generic standards and frameworks for an EMS are challenging to implement in an airline context. The airline business is complex and global, covering activities from flight operations, ground handling, and catering to maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) in all manner of surroundings. Even if an airline can measure particular aspects of its environmental performance, the differing reporting requirements add a further layer of confusion. Many airlines already publish environment, sustainability or social responsibility reports that comply with the recognised international reporting standards or frameworks, such as the Global Reporting Initiative. In addition, however, airlines are subject to increasing pressure to disclose further emissions information from their operations. This can place a real burden on an airline as each methodology has a different scope. A 2011 PriceWaterhouseCoopers report on airline corporate sustainability reporting also highlighted the need for harmonised sector-wide data and reporting standards. A robust and systematic environmental management programme would greatly increase
the efficiency of environmental data collection and reporting. And it would ensure the transparency and global standards needed to explain the industry’s environmental performance to its stakeholders, including investors, passengers, and employees. A flexible approach The IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme is a voluntary, sector-wide EMS developed utilising the existing quality systems and processes of IATA’s other programmes. It is based on the premise that all airlines can share common solutions. As well as promoting shared best practices, IEnvA meets the rigours and objectives of other international environmental management systems. One of the key aspects of IEnvA is the flexibility of the programme, allowing airlines to move through it without restrictions. Airlines have the ability to either apply IEnvA to their core operations or expand its scope to additional services that the airline may offer, such as ground operations, catering and MRO. “Adopting standard IEnvA procedures allows an airline to focus resources on improving its environmental performance rather than designing an EMS from scratch,” says Jon Godson, IATA assistant director, aviation environment. “Airlines’ environmental policies, performance, and reporting are coming under increasing scrutiny from regulators, passengers, and investors. They need the means to resp ????????????????????????????????%????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????()????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????%????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????q??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????t???? ???????q%?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????t?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????q??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????t???????? ???????qQ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????t?!???????%??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????%Q??????????????????????%Q?=?????????M????????????????%Q?M???????????? ????=????????Q???????????????????M??????5??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????I?????????????????????????????????????????????????????Q?????????????M??????5????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????(+
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