At the Dutch Aviation Agenda Conference held recently in Noordwijk, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines called on participants representing the Dutch aviation sector to adopt a proactive approach towards addressing climate problems.

"We cannot adopt a wait-and-see attitude. We must address the problem in a proactive manner as opposed to being reactive. Together, even if it's one step at a time, we can make a dynamic start. At KLM, we are keen to establish a working group representing the Dutch airline industry to examine ways to implement all the available improvements," said Jan-Ernst de Groot, Executive Vice President of KLM in his keynote speech.

During his speech, De Groot said that aviation must be preserved. "If we, as the Schiphol community, adopt a wait-and-see stance, we are at grave financial risk. We place ourselves beyond the scope of debate and aviation runs the risk of becoming a symbol of the ‘inconvenient truth.' No, we must contribute seriously towards finding a solution to a global problem and make preparations for forthcoming European legislation. In so doing, Schiphol's contribution as a mainport to Dutch prosperity will be secured."

KLM's approach consists of three steps: reduction (stop at nothing to reduce pollution at source through technological and/or operational improvements), control (the emissions trading system would appear to be the most effective and efficient system to control emissions and could serve as a powerful marketing mechanism that stimulates innovation) and compensation.