THE SUSTAINABILITY INTERVIEW
It also includes ESG reporting and business integration which is the ultimate goal – embedding sustainability activities throughout the organisation.
A second pillar focuses on sustainable aviation fuel and carbon dioxide removals, which Julie says will be absolutely necessary for aviation.
“ Aviation is a hard-to-abate sector, if not the hardest in the transportation sector,” Julie explains.“ I’ m convinced that even though they’ re out of sector, carbon dioxide removals will be absolutely necessary.”
The third pillar covers regulatory and advocacy work, monitoring the global environment for evolving regulations. The team brings these back into the organisation to educate, inform and adapt where necessary, while also advocating to policymakers.
Challenges and transformation Being a professional in sustainability often requires resilience and agility. The role involves staying true to ambition and goals while taking stock of the environment and course correcting as needed.
“ Ultimately it’ s about corporate responsibility and we want to be leaders in that sustainability journey for the sector,” Julie says.“ This is a collective journey and it’ s important to embark teams and galvanise to this collective.”
Transformations continue beyond any five-year goal. Climate change is accelerating and its impacts will continue, requiring both adaptation and mitigation simultaneously.
“ It’ s an‘ and’, it’ s not an‘ or’,” Julie continues.“ We need to adapt and mitigate at the same time.”
Climate extremes, such as more frequent and intense wildfires, have already inspired Airbus to develop a kit that can transform its A400M military transport aircraft into a water bomber within hours – a capability that was successfully deployed to fight fires in southern France this summer.
“ This industry has always been able to make the impossible possible,” Julie concludes.“ And back many, many years ago, everybody thought flight wouldn’ t be possible. Then flight couldn’ t be made safe. Then it couldn’ t be democratised and given access to many, many more people. So let’ s now work together to decarbonise it and become a force for good.”
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