Aviation Workers Call for Climate Action: “Absolute Emission Targets Must Be Set”

Employees from some of the world’s leading aviation companies—including KLM, Air France, Airbus, and Lufthansa—have called on industry leaders to take bolder steps on climate action. In a statement signed by hundreds of staff, they stressed that airlines must set absolute emission reduction targets and be ready to limit growth.

This appeal stands out as one of the strongest climate demands to emerge from within the aviation sector itself. Organised by the pressure group Call Aviation to Action (CAA), the initiative warns that the industry’s current plans conflict with climate goals and urges more radical measures.

Karel Bockstael, co-founder of CAA and former Vice President of Sustainability at KLM, said:
“We found that there are many people in the industry who are genuinely concerned about climate change but feel unable to speak out. This movement aims to be their voice.”

Currently, the sector’s net-zero strategies rely heavily on the CORSIA agreement adopted in 2016 and growth policies offset through carbon credits. However, employees argue that this system is unsustainable and that continued reliance on fossil fuels will push aviation into a “dead end.”

The statement, signed by 443 people, highlighted the following key demands for airlines:

• Establish a carbon budget across the sector,

• Set more realistic goals for efficiency and technological improvements,

• Regulate demand, particularly in regions with a high share of historical emissions,

• Carry out lobbying efforts for stronger and more transparent climate policies.

A KLM spokesperson responded by noting that the airline has invested over $8 billion in next-generation aircraft and is one of the world’s largest buyers of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), adding:
“Making aviation more sustainable takes time, but we are continuing to make progress.”

Unlike campaigns led by environmental groups, this employee-driven initiative stands out for its industry origins. Deborah McNamara, Director of ClimateVoice, welcomed the development, calling it “encouraging,” and added:
“When calls for change come from the very employees who shape the sector, they create a far stronger impact.”

CAA announced that it will reveal its next steps in the autumn.