As students here at the 性视界 Business School rush to sign up for treks all over the world, I think it would be apt to think about the carbon footprint of our air travels and consider how airlines are adapting to growing demand for air travel and to increasing concern for climate change while operating businesses whose margins are heavily impacted by the cost of energy. This post will be specifically focused on JetBlue, a favorite among value carriers for today\u2019s globetrotting millennials (though to be exact, JetBlue\u2019s routes currently only span the Americas).<\/p>\n
Airplanes have long been fueled by fossil fuels, which emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. One person\u2019s roundtrip flight from New York to San Francisco creates the equivalent of 2 or 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide <\/span>[1]<\/span>. In 2015 alone, worldwide flights produced 781 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, accounting for 2% of all human-induced carbon dioxide emissions <\/span>[2]<\/span>. This share is projected to grow to a quarter of all emissions by 2050 as demand for flights continue to grow <\/span>[3]<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n But not only are airlines contributors to climate change, they are also victims of changing wind patterns that have led to longer flight routes and increasing atmospheric turbulences that wear down their fleets <\/span>[4]<\/span>. Last month, 191 nations in the United Nations reached the world\u2019s first agreement to limit greenhouse gas pollution by the aviation industry via an offsetting scheme<\/span> [3]<\/span>. Suffice it to say that airlines are feeling increasing pressure to make changes in their business and operations.<\/span><\/p>\n JetBlue has long recognized the need to invest in various sustainability efforts, some of which are highlighted below:<\/span><\/p>\n Below are additional ideas of varying degrees of immediate feasibility which JetBlue could consider implementing.<\/span><\/p>\n What are your thoughts about how airlines can continue to satisfy our growing appetite for air travel in a sustainable way?<\/p>\n Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n Word Count: 800<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As climate change regulations for the aviation industry take form and consumer demand for air travel continue to increase, can airlines find a way to grow in a sustainable way? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1853,"featured_media":11842,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[],"class_list":["post-11837","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\n\n
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