The new year marks the beginning of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport, which offers a defining moment for not only the aviation community but the entire global transport sector to raise awareness of mobility's role in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and to advance these goals globally beyond 2030.
Aviation is more than just a mode of transport. It is a catalyst for economic development and social progress, supporting 86.5 million jobs around the world and accounting for 3.9% of global economic activity. Air transport fosters tourism and trade and opens pathways for international business and cultural exchange.
The UN Decade is a chance to reaffirm our commitment as an industry in fostering sustainable development around the world and to put a spotlight on the socio-economic and environmental benefits of those initiatives that organisations across the air transport value chain are driving forward.
Aviation provides lifelines for remote communities, supports emergency and humanitarian efforts and provides the very foundation for keeping the world moving. These contributions are reflected across the Sustainable Development Goals, from reducing inequalities and supporting decent work, to enabling innovation, global partnerships and economic growth.
As we look ahead to the Decade, it is vital that these wider societal benefits guide the future of air transport. At the same time, the industry is working hard to address its environmental responsibilities to reduce its impact on the climate. As we continue our journey towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, we are expanding the use of sustainable aviation fuel and implementing more efficient technologies and operational improvements that will shape the aviation sector of tomorrow. But sustainable transport is more than just efficiency. It is about access, reflecting the communities we serve, resilience and the ability of people everywhere to participate in a connected world.
The UN Decade of Sustainable Transport offers a platform to bring these elements together. For aviation, it is an opportunity to articulate what we contribute today and what we can deliver in the years ahead: a global network that supports human development and underpins the social and economic foundation of nations.
With the beginning of the Decade, ATAG has released a publication highlighting those contributions, drawing on insights and perspectives from partners across the air transport community. It aims to demonstrate what the global aviation industry brings to the table over the next decade.
I invite the international community, governments, organisations and industry leaders across the globe to work with us in shaping a transport future that is more inclusive, resilient and sustainable.