Lopez-led INAEC Aviation Corporation emerges as the pioneer general aviation operator in the Philippines that had formally submitted ‘net zero’ commitment via the “Climate Neutral Now Pledge” of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
With the Lopez firm signing the UNFCCC pledge, it was explained that “INAEC joined a global initiative to achieve net zero greenhouse gas GHG) emissions by 2050 or earlier,” and it has firmed up that commitment on September 15 this year.
In that covenant with the UN body, INAEC “committed itself to measure its greenhouse gas emissions, plan and implement actions to reduce these emissions, and consider contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions through credible carbon credits.”
Under a ‘net zero’ paradigm, which took the spotlight at the recently concluded 26th Conference of the Parties (COP 26) in Scotland, organizations and countries can pledge to negate the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of their industrial or human activities by embracing and implementing methods and programs that will reduce their carbon emissions into the atmosphere, that in the end could help abate global warming predicaments.
Most companies that have mid-century net zero commitments also guaranteed that they will employ metrics or standard of measurements so they can concretely gauge the scale of carbon emissions reduction that they have been achieving relative to their commitments with the UNFCCC.
INAEC President Jay R. Lopez said their net zero pledge “is a natural step for INAEC as part of the Lopez group of companies,” with him noting that the conglomerate “has firmly established itself as firm advocate of environmental protection and climate action, as manifested by our ‘no-to-coal’ declaration way back in 2016.”
He qualified that “while the global aviation industry accounts for a mere 2.0-percent of the total GHG emissions, or 5.0-percent if you consider the other gases and water vapor trails produced by aircraft, conventional flying is nevertheless still a damaging way to travel for the climate.”
Lopez thus noted that with the relentless expansion of the aviation industry and with more people opting to travel by air in the future, “we very much realize the need for timely action, so that the 1.5° goal remains attainable.”
On the whole, the aviation company executive conveyed that “our aim at INAEC is to contribute to a socially responsible, cleaner and safer world for our children’s future.”
At present, INAEC is monitoring “the fuel and energy consumption of its aircraft, equipment and facilities,” and from the data gathered, it will “pinpoint and implement ways to reduce consumption.”
INAEC expounded “this is done through efficient flight scheduling, personnel trip planning, energy efficiency reminders and continuous awareness campaigns to employees regarding the climate emergency.”
Relative to its carbon emissions reduction pledge, the Lopez aviation firm indicated that it will submit annual reports to the UNFCCC on the outcome of its GHG emissions monitoring and reduction initiatives.
Miguel Naranjo, representative of the UNFCCC Secretariat, cited INAEC Aviation Corporation for being a participant in the Climate Neutral Now initiative.
He emphasized that “action on climate by all stakeholders is urgent, and committing to our process helps organizations and companies understand their carbon footprint, the way to reduce it and potentially compensate it.”
Given the trailblazing initiative of INAEC on its ‘net zero’ commitment, Naranjo is reinforcing UNFCCC’s call for “all their stakeholders to make the commitment and work to reduce their emissions in a collaborative manner.”
On having paramount contribution to climate change solutions, the Lopez conglomerate is the undisputed country champion on this sphere. INAEC itself has already been monitoring its carbon emissions since 2018, even way ahead of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). which just took effect on January 1, 2019, and that does not even apply to general or business aviation operators.