Responsible aviation and peak oil

Abstract

This presentation addresses the question of what responsible aviation means, and who the recipient of such responsibility would be: for example local communities, the global environment, employees or shareholders. It also argues that the focus of responsibility depends on key parameters that define the context in which airlines and other parties involved in the operation of air travel make decisions. The two specific situations of climate change and peak oil are discussed in more detail to illustrate how different kinds of ‘future worlds’ influence what responsible aviation means. While some initiatives, such as fuel efficiency of aircraft, would be similar under climate change and peak oil scenarios, there are also important points of difference. These are discussed against the background of ’responsible’ actions already implemented in the aviation sector.