Five themes relate to the reduction of carbon emissions from international aviation originating in the Netherlands, resulting in no less than 35% fewer emissions by 2030 than there would have been in the absence of this action plan. This is in addition to the substantial carbon reductions that civil aviation provides through the European trading system and the global UN Emissions Trading System (CORSIA) that give substance to the Paris objectives. Beyond that, there are two themes that will reduce carbon emissions on the ground.

The seven themes of “Smart and Sustainable” are:

Optimising flight routes and procedures
The efficient use of fuel results in fewer CO₂ emissions. More direct flight routes and improved takeoff and landing procedures will result in less fuel consumption. Current routes in Dutch and European airspace are overloaded and not always efficient, and lead to added and unnecessary CO₂ emissions.

Encouraging cleaner aircraft by levying airport fees
Schiphol intends to differentiate airport charges (between 2019 and 2022) partly on the basis of climate impact. Airlines will pay less to use quieter and generally cleaner aircraft, while the costs for noisier, more polluting aircraft will increase.

Introducing sustainable fuel
As a result of the long development time and life span of new aircraft, kerosene-based fuel will remain the fuel of choice for the time being. For this reason, sustainable fuel is one of the most effective ways of reducing CO₂ emissions on the relatively short term. These are sustainable biojet fuels made from raw materials that do not compromise human or animal food supplies or which cause environmental damage such as deforestation.

Radical fleet renewal
We have taken major steps to reduce our climate impact by introducing radically new aircraft concepts and fully electrically powered aircraft. The Dutch aviation industry and knowledge institutions are playing an important role in developing new aerodynamic models, stronger and lighter materials, and electric-hybrid propulsion that will be necessary after 2030 to further reduce emissions from aviation. Over the next decade, airlines will continue to renew their fleets, thereby further reducing their emissions.

Deploying international train service and other sustainable means of transport over short distances
The Netherlands benefits from a customer-centric, fast, and sustainable transport system. On some routes, trains are a good alternative to air travel up to a distance of 700 kilometres. The success of the Eurostar and Thalys proves that this is possible and that it is better for the environment. To make train travel even more attractive, we will need faster trains, better connections to Schiphol, and it must be easier to buy integrated AirRail tickets. To further develop Schiphol as a multimodal hub, the extension of the North-South Metro line above ground is another interesting option. This will create space for international trains in the Schiphol Tunnel. And there are sustainable alternatives other than the train that can be further developed for routes with smaller passenger volumes.

Emission-free airports
In 2030, we will ensure that all Royal Schiphol Group airport terminals, offices, and ground operations will be climate neutral. Schiphol already runs entirely on electricity generated by Dutch wind and is making efforts to increase energy efficiency (for instance, by using LED lighting), phase out gas (for instance, by using heat and cold storage), and limit commuting. Airport users (including airlines and handling agents) also play an important role in making the airport climate-neutral by making greater use of electrical equipment and other technology.

A fast and efficient journey to and from the airport
The journey to and from the airport takes time. It can be unnecessarily complicated, cause traffic jams, and contribute to carbon emissions. At present, travellers opt for cars and public transport. Other solutions – electric rental cars and faster public transport to and from airports – are also needed. Furthermore, passengers must be able to make use of reliable and efficient transfers and have more options for getting cargo and baggage from door to door. Also in air cargo transport, all parties work closely with the help of digitisation, chain agreements, and good information exchange to optimise their activities. This will improve lead times and loading rates, and reduce carbon emissions.

Sustainable biojet fuel contributes significantly to making aviation more sustainable, but is still two to three times more expensive than fossil fuel. Södra, Sweden’s largest cooperative of forest owners, based in Växjö, will be the first non-Dutch partner in the KLM Corporate BioFuel Programme. Together with Södra and the City of Växjö, KLM and SkyNRG will also investigate the feasibility of producing biojet fuel in the region around Växjö.

CO₂ compensation on the Växjö route
As it is not yet possible to fly entirely on sustainable biojet fuel, KLM and Växjö Småland Airport are joining forces to pay jointly for the total CO₂ compensation for flights to and from Växjö. The money will go to the reforestation initiative CO2OL Tropical Mix in Panama, a ‘Gold Standard for the Global Goals’ project. The project converts degraded meadows into mixed forests by planting a mix of native tree species and some exotic species. In addition, the project’s activities create long-term employment thereby providing a sustainable source of income for the local population.

Växjö
Växjö is the capital of the Kronoberg region located in the south of Sweden. The city has an entrepreneurial climate and a renowned university. It is surrounded by beautiful nature, offers a wide range of outdoor activities, and has an excellent gastronomic reputation.

You can find more information about thise new destination on our Växjö page.

80% less CO₂ emissions

KLM founded SkyNRG and initiated the KLM Corporate BioFuel Programme to stimulate the demand for sustainable biofuel. With the help of this cooperative effort, KLM has been operating all of its flights from Los Angeles partially with sustainable biofuel since 2012. KLM is the only European airline operating intercontinental flights using biofuel.

By using sustainable biofuel, KLM can reduce its CO₂ emissions by as much as 80% compared to fossil fuels. The market for sustainable biofuel, however, is far from mature, so the price is still three times higher than that of fossil fuel. KLM only purchases biofuels made from raw materials that have no negative environmental impact on biodiversity or food production. KLM is currently using sustainable biofuel made from used cooking oil (UCO).

Dreamliner

The San Jose service will be operated using Boeing 787-900 equipment. This Boeing Dreamliner has 294 seats and offers plenty of travel comfort. Higher air pressure in the cabin ensures that passengers arrive at their destination feeling rested. WiFi is also available onboard for passengers who would like be online during their flight. The Dreamliner is quieter than other aircraft, consumes less fuel and, therefore, emits less CO2.

More comfortable and eco-friendly
The Boeing 787 creates less noise, consumes less fuel, and gives off fewer carbon dioxide emissions. It brings us ever closer to our aim to reduce CO₂ emissions by 20% in 2020 compared to 2011. The Dreamliner is built mainly of carbon fibre composite which can be cut easily, so the manufacturing process creates less waste.

The aircraft also offers numerous advantages in terms of passenger comfort. The increased cabin air pressure helps passengers to arrive at their destination feeling well rested. Passengers who want to be online during their flight have access to WiFi.

Next Dreamliner expected in January 2018
KLM took receipt of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in November of 2015. In January 2018, we are expecting our eleventh Dreamliner.

(Photos by Patrick Kop)

It is encouraging to see so many countries committing to the agreement from the start, pledging that airlines would only be allowed to pursue CO₂-neutral growth from 2020. Among these countries are various key aviation nations, including China, the USA and all EU countries.

The primary focus of the ICAO meeting was an emissions trading scheme (compensation), but KLM will continue to urge the sector to pursue efforts to reduce emissions by deploying new aviation technologies, using biofuels, making more efficient use of air space, and optimising flight operations.

KLM has long been the acknowledged leader of efforts to make the air transport sector more sustainable. This is borne out by Air France KLM’s ranking at the top of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 12 consecutive years. KLM has had its own integral climate action plan since 2005.

Since 2008, KLM passengers have been able to compensate for their flights’ emissions by way of the CO2ZERO programme. In addition, KLM has invested extensively in fleet renewal in recent years, and heads the field in the development of a market for sustainable biofuels. In 2011, KLM operated its first commercial flight using biofuel. This first flight to Paris was soon followed by flights to other destinations. In 2012, the KLM Corporate BioFuel programme was launched, enabling companies to operate some of their flights on sustainable biofuel, thereby further stimulating biofuel development. Last month, KLM signed a three-year contract that will see all its flights from Los Angeles to Amsterdam operated using a percentage of sustainable biofuel.

More information on: www.klmtakescare.com. 

The biofuel for this series of flights is produced from 100% RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) certified camelina oil and in full compliance with the EU RED standard. The biofuel is produced within the ITAKA (Initiative Towards SustAinable Kerosene for Aviation) project and supplied by Air BP and SkyNRG. The ITAKA consortium was founded by leading companies operating in the airline and fuel industries. Together, they are working on producing and testing sustainable biofuel in the airline industry. In achieving this goal, they receive financial support from the European Commission.

The biofuel flights are partly funded by the partners in the KLM Corporate BioFuel Programme: ABN AMRO, Accenture, CBRE Global Investors, FMO, FrieslandCampina, City of Amsterdam, Heineken, Loyens & Loeff, PGGM, Perfetti Van Melle and the Schiphol Group.

KLM’s aim is to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% per passenger in 2020 (compared to 2011 levels) through fleet renewal, using sustainable biofuel and increasing flight efficiency. Because affordable sustainable biofuel is not always available, KLM also aims to stimulate the market for sustainable biofuel. KLM is “best in class” when it comes to fuel efficiency and leads the field with respect to using sustainable biofuel.

KLM’s recent inclusion of the E175 from Embraer in its fleet ties in with the airline’s aim to further reduce CO2 emissions. This aircraft type is significantly more fuel-efficient in comparison with the current Fokker 70 equipment, and is therefore more environmentally friendly. Using 18% less fuel, it also generates an 18% reduction in CO2 emissions.