It’s easy to become resigned to the perceived inevitability of climate change. Every temperature record broken, every sea level rise and every new forest fire, fuels fears that global warming is irreversible. Yet this CJI Sustainable Business Aviation Guide 2022 is packed with optimism.

These pages offer practical solutions to the challenges of reducing aviation’s carbon footprint and winning recognition for taking action on climate change. In preparing the guide, sponsored by 4Air, we have spoken to scientists, technicians, business leaders, jet brokers, policy makers and a host of other industry professionals. All agree that concerted action now can eliminate aviation’s carbon emissions and contribute to halting global warming. But it is a mammoth challenge, which demands action now ahead of the net zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions deadline of 2050.

We begin by setting out the path ahead by interviewing Kennedy Ricci, president, of aviation sustainability consultancy 4Air. An enthusiastic private and business pilot, Ricci urges action today, ahead of the 2050 deadline to meet the industry’s obligations. 4Air’s four sustainability ratings set out how that can be achieved.

In the following pages, aviation professionals explain in more detail what practical steps private jet operators, owners and the teams that support them can take to cut carbon emissions. Our feature on the next generation of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) explains how new technology is helping to reduce the price of renewable aviation fuels while boosting their availability.

Some of the individuals who are leading progress on sustainable business aviation are recognised in our inaugural Power Players List. With help from Corporate Jet Investor readers and an independent panel of industry insiders, we have named the 20 most influential men and women in business aviation today. Congratulations to all concerned.

We hope this guide generates light (and practical advice) on the complexities of meeting challenges posed by climate change. Thank you to 4Air for making this guide possible and to our Power Players judges. Finally, thanks too, to the hundreds of thousands of men and women whose efforts to combat climate change often go unrecognised – at least on the global stage. All our futures depend on their skill, expertise and dedication.