The Philippines' aviation industry is addressing safe and sustainable connectivity and regional integration by implementing aviation projects and initiatives that aim to achieve net-zero emission by 2050. 

During Tuesday's 3rd International Civil Aviation Organization-European Union Aviation Safety Agency (ICAO-EASA) Forum on Civil Aviation in South East Asia, Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is partnering with industry stakeholders to achieve nature-based carbon sink project development. 

"Part of the initiative is the promotion of biofuels or sustainable aviation fuels or SAF," Sec. Bautista said. 

"We partnered with a top local university to create opportunities for local carbon sink projects that would become source of local air carriers’ emission offsetting requirements," he added. 

Sec. Bautista said the forum is setting clear steps to achieve the net-zero emission goal of the global aviation industry for 2050.

As the global aviation industry recovers, Sec. Bautista also said civil aviation regulatory agencies in Europe and Southeast Asia must agree on a course of action towards safe and sustained connectivity to achieve the goal of net-zero emission by 2050. 

"This enhanced cooperation among civil aviation regulatory agencies in Europe and Southeast Asia would hopefully lead to improved aviation safety and environmental sustainability while strengthening our resilience to shocks and disruptions in the region," he pointed out. 

The transport chief said that air traffic in 2023 has increased by 36.9% compared to 2022. This is 94.1% higher or almost double the pre-pandemic levels, said Bautista.

Sec. Bautista added global air traffic is expected to reach 19.3 billion passengers, 200 million tons of cargo, and 153.8 million aircraft movement by year 2041.