Airspace Unlimited was proud to be invited to participate in the Boeing Innovation Forum held at Glasgow Airport recently.
As a company whose focus is realizing measurable gains in airspace efficiency, it was a great opportunity to share our vision with like-minded industry members. While learning about other initiatives to reduce overall carbon emissions from aviation, we realized the need to bring real results to market in the short term.
A question was raised to one of the panelists addressing the issue of whether a kilogram (kilo) of CO2 today has the same value of a kilo of CO2 in 2030.
To his credit the panelist acknowledged that he had not fully considered the fact that a kilo of CO2 saved today would have a far greater effect than a kilo saved in 2030.
The exchange highlighted an issue that is often overlooked in the soundbite-dense coverage of the subject: how do we place an accurate value on a kilo of CO2?
What metric should you use, the current value of carbon capture, or some other method?
Whilst a kilo of CO2 may not have an equivalent to the latent value of a physical commodity such as gold, there are some principles from cash savings and investments that we can use to consider future value.
Compound interest makes our money grow faster because interest is calculated on the accumulated interest over time as well as on the original principal. Compounding therefore creates a snowball effect, as the original investments plus the income earned from those investments grow together. This is why we’re always being told to start saving for our future as early as possible.
So instead of getting stuck in a debate about the actual value of a kilo of CO2, we should remain conscious of the impact of time on that potential future value, and focus on implementing any and all immediately deployable operational solutions as soon as possible.
If we can save one kilo this year and an additional kilo each subsequent year until 2050, your total offset will be 465 kg. Small you might say, but significant based on the amount of offset if begun now.
Would it be easier to begin with one kilo today or wait until 2050 and try to offset 465kg in one go?
At Airspace Unlimited, an innovator in airspace usage, we believe that change is possible now in a range of different areas. This is why we are developing solutions to improve strategic airspace design, minimise environmental impacts through variation of ANSP charging schemes, and ensure maximum efficiency of military airspace reservations.
Our mantra is “…many shavings make a pile,” so let’s not put off until tomorrow, the small improvements we can make today.