Page 67 - World Airnews Magazine October Edition 2020

NEWS DIGITAL

sooner, as it is already too late once trees
have been felled and burned.
So far, the WWF-Kaninde project has
donated 19 drones costing around (US)
$2,000 each to 18 organizations focused
on the Amazon.
Aerial drones have been used by
Indigenous peoples in Ecuador, Peru and
other places for about three years after
becoming more affordable.
The images illustrate the damage of
deforestation.
"Seeing the extent of deforestation
from above is much more impactful than
standing in the middle of it," Jessica Webb, senior manager for cultures, the WWF has noted.
global engagement with Global Forest Watch. Despite this, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro consistently
The high-resolution images, video and GPS mapping data from pushes to develop Indigenous lands and allow mining and commer-
drones can also be submitted in court as evidence of illegal activi- cial farming to deforest the Amazon.
ties. Drones are likely to become more widespread as technology Last year, the Brazilian Amazon suffered its highest level of
advances allow for longer range and stronger batteries. deforestation since 2008, with this year poised to become worse,
"The key is not to think of the technology as a silver bullet," the WWF reported.
Webb said, advocating to pair the new technology with Indigenous Awapy and his team have faced death threats from illegal loggers
knowledge to create more powerful protections for the forest. and land-grabbers for their work protecting the forest, but remain
Keeping remaining rainforest intact is crucial to slow global determined to use this new technology to protect their home for
warming since trees act as a carbon sink. Conservation also future generations.
protects the Amazon's rich biodiversity, and is critical to food "My hope is that while I am alive, I want to see the jungle
security, water services and the preservation of Indigenous standing, the jungle intact. That is my hope," Awapy said. Q

NEWS DIGITAL

SHELL INKS DEAL WITH NESTE

TO BOOST AVIATION BIOFUELS

greenhouse gas emissions from flight by up to 80 percent
compared to conventional jet fuel, and the company has
Shell recently announced a deal with oil refining and pledged to achieve "carbon neutral" production of its products
by 2035.
biofuels manufacturer Neste, which the two companies Neste's vice president for renewable fuels, Thorsten Lange,
claim will significantly increase the supply and availability of claimed sustainable aviation biofuels offered "the only viable
sustainable jet fuel for the aviation industry. alternative to fossil liquid fuels for powering commercial
The agreement, which comes into effect from next month, aircraft with an immediate potential to reduce aviation's
brings together Neste's expertise in the production and supply greenhouse gas emissions."
of so-called "renewable diesel" made from a range of raw "We are fully committed to supporting the aviation industry,
materials - such as animal fats, vegetable oils, rapeseed oil its customers and corporates with their emission reduction
and palm oil - with Shell's aviation arm, which supplies jet fuel targets," Lange said.
around the world. The deal signals growing efforts to blend renewable biofuels
Anna Mascolo, president of Shell Aviation, said the deal with conventional jet fuels in order to curb emissions from
reflects the oil giant's aim to "reduce the carbon intensity of flights, with Virgin Atlantic previously completing the first
the fuels we sell which includes selling more lower-carbon transatlantic flight powered by biofuels, although some
fuels like sustainable aviation fuel." concerns continue to surround the provenance of materials
"This agreement with Neste will help Shell Aviation and feed stocks used to produce biofuels, such as palm oil.
customers to lower their emissions and demonstrates the kind Meanwhile, private jet firm VistaJet has said it is partnering
of progress we can deliver by working in collaboration with with biofuel producer SkyNRG, in a move it claims could offer
others," Mascolo said. its clients the potential to reduce flight emissions by up to 85
The agreement with Shell follows hot on the heels of Neste's percent.
deal with rival oil giant BP last month to ramp up the supply of The deal forms part of VistaJet's sustainability strategy,
aviation biofuel to several European airports through 2020 and through which it is aiming to offset almost 100,000 tons of CO2
2021. Neste claims its sustainable aviation fuels can reduce and reduce fuel consumption by almost 8 percent per flight. Q

World Airnews | October Extra 2020
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