Today, in France and around the world, environmental protection has never been so uppermost in people’s minds. Assessments by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), preparation of the agreement set to replace Kyoto, the draft EU directive on ETS and even the creation of a large Ministry of the Environment in France are all strong signs of a wide-scale awareness of environmental issues.

In this context, the aircraft is particularly criticized. However, without minimizing the effects of our air transport activity on the environment, you can nevertheless relativize.

Air transport only produces one of the six greenhouse gases, CO2, and proportionally little, as the global traffic share only accounts for 2% of all CO2 released on earth.

This share will no doubt increase, due to the reduction made by other industries. In fact, contrary to other sectors, the plane will continue to depend on oil for energy, as alternative energies for this means of transport do not yet exist.

 
► Air France has been striving to limit its impact on the environment.

For a long time now, Air France has striven to limit the impact of its activities on the environment.  This was the subject of a first report in 1996.  Air France’s aim is to implement a strong policy designed to minimize gas and noise emissions. The airline’s commitment in this area is guaranteed by the convergence of environmental and economic interests.