S.T.A.R.S. Program to Formally Kick Off at EBACE2024
17 May 2024
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) will formally launch the proprietary Standards & Training for Aviation Responsibility and Sustainability (S.T.A.R.S.) Program at the 2024 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), Europe’s premier business aviation event.
S.T.A.R.S. offers a holistic framework for organizations to develop and integrate environmental and social strategies seamlessly. By aligning with both the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change (BACCC) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, S.T.A.R.S. propels business aviation companies towards a brighter, more responsible future.
“As the S.T.A.R.S. program has come together with our successful trial partners, we have laid down a strong foundation for sustainable practices in our industry,” noted Maureen Gautier, EBAA sustainability and future workforce manager. “We look forward to renewing our commitment to environmental and social responsibility with the official launch of Tier 1, opening up the programme for registration at EBACE this year.”
“EBAA launched S.T.A.R.S. to demonstrate that Business aviation is not just committed to sustainability, but it aims to lead in this process through concrete and measurable actions,” added EBAA Secretary General Holger Krahmerl. “With S.T.A.R.S., EBAA aims to position business aviation as a leader in achieving net zero emissions by 2050.’’
S.T.A.R.S. has its roots at EBACE, where the concept was first presented at the 2019 convention to gauge the industry’s receptiveness to the initiative. The program was devised by a group of young business aviation professionals from half a dozen companies in Europe, who initiated the idea at the One Young World Summit, which brings together people ages 18-30 from 190+ countries to discuss how to address pressing societal issues.
This year’s launch builds on work done at EBACE2022, when the program’s participants outlined the pilot program’s schedule.
Tier 1 of S.T.A.R.S. involves self-measurement and writing a policy for continuous progress towards environmental and social sustainability goals. Policies should address areas such as greenhouse gas emissions reporting, waste and water usage, non-discrimination, inclusiveness, a new code of conduct and data privacy and security. Tiers 2 and 3, the implementation stages, are modelled to be compliant with global international standards.
Companies interested in registering for the programme can find out more on the S.T.A.R.S. website when it launches on 28 May 2024: https://bizavstars.org/.
The program is the latest in a long list of impactful, innovative steps taken by business aviation as it works to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a longstanding goal set forth in the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change, and, more recently, in the CLIMBING.FAST. campaign.
S.T.A.R.S. serves as a complement to the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) award-winning Sustainable Flight Department Accreditation Program.
Gautier will moderate an EBACE panel discussion focused on the program, titled, “S.TA.R.S. – Elevating Business Aviation to New Sustainability Heights,” on the show’s opening day, Tuesday, 28 May, from 14:30 – 15:30 CET on the EBACE Innovation Stage. Gautier and the panelists will take questions about the program following the discussion.
