Environmental consultancy
Specialist environmental consultancy for the aviation industry
MDT offers expert consultancy to clients on environmental and legislative issues in the aviation sector. Today, it is impossible to be involved in the aviation industry without at least recognising the impact that environmental concerns and regulations may have on investments over the longer term. Through our expert consultants and our equity ownership in Verdetech Investments, MDT is in constant touch with the latest regulatory developments.
The European Union Emission Trading System
Aviation contributes to global climate change, and its contribution is increasing. From 1990 to 2002, greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation increased by almost 70%.
The ETS is the biggest greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world. It currently covers organisations in the energy and industrial sectors which are collectively responsible for around half of the EU's total emissions of CO2. Under the ETS, large emitters of carbon dioxide within the EU must monitor and annually report their CO2 emissions, and can be fined for each excess tonne of CO2 they produce.
The European Commission now plans to include aviation in the ETS. From 2011, emissions from all flights between EU airports will be covered, and from 2012 the scope will be expanded to cover all international flights that arrive at or depart from an EU airport.
How will this affect aircraft choices? How will this affect aircraft values and residuals? Investors need to be able to predict as accurately as possible the effect (which could be positive or negative) of changing environmental legislation on their investment.
MDT can advise aircraft operators on ways to reduce their emissions to meet their legislative requirements, including:
- Investment in more efficient aircraft
- Retrofitting aircraft with more efficient engines or drag-reduction technologies
- Optimising operations, timetables and routes to ensure aircraft are used efficiently
Environmental technology expertise
Through MDT’s offshoot company Verdetech Investments, we are a major investor in a number of ‘cleantech’ businesses. We are the largest single shareholder in DUVAS Technologies, which is being developed in conjunction with leading scientists from London’s Imperial College.
DUVAS Technologies is developing a new and highly innovative approach to measuring (on a real time basis) a range of air pollutants, including NOx, SO2, O3, benzene, toluene, etc. The DUVAS system can be either fixed or portable, and can be used either on a standalone basis or to create a ‘grid map’ of pollution over a particular area. As such, it is ideal for airport authorities needing to measure the impact on the environment of emissions from aircraft taking off and landing at their airports. The technology will play a key role in the UK Department for Transport MESSAGE Project.
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Contact MDT's aviation team
