From November 6 to 8, 2024, the 2nd International Conference on Green Aviation (ICGA2024) was successfully held in the Eastern New District of Chengdu. The conference focused on the development of green aviation, inviting stakeholders from various sectors, including technology, policy, and investment, to exchange ideas and explore ways to create an ecosystem conducive to the growth of green aviation. This highly international event attracted over 130 speakers from nearly 20 countries, including China, Brazil, the United States, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, Germany, the UAE, Australia, France, the UK, and Canada. These speakers shared insights in the main forum and nine parallel sessions, with more than 400 industry representatives in attendance.

On November 6, Academician ZHANG Weihong, Vice President of CSAA and the candidate President of IAGA, delivered a welcome address. Opening remarks were given by Joao AZEVEDO, past President of ICAS; Frank HASELBACH, President of ISABE; and ZHU Bi, General Manager of Chengdu Eastern New Area Aerotropolis Investment Co., Ltd. The opening ceremony was moderated by YAO Junchen, Vice President of CSAA and the candidate Vice President of IAGA.

During the opening ceremony, the candidate Vice Presidents of IAGA—YIN Shijun, Raafat SAADE, Henry HOOI, and Triant FLOURIS—jointly announced the establishment of several IAGA branches, including the International Airworthiness Committee, the International Committee on Sustainable Composite Materials, the International Sustainable Aviation Fuel Committee, the International Hydrogen Propulsion Committee, and the Student Case Competition Working Group.

Keynote speeches were delivered by distinguished experts, including LIU Fang, Member of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, former Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); Raafat SAADE, Professor at Beijing Institute of Technology; ZHOU Hailing, Head of Centres and Impact, Greater China, World Economic Forum; and MA Hongya, Director, Hebei Province Aerospace Superalloys Institute and Zhonghang Shangda Superalloys Co., Ltd. (ZHSD).

Although aviation contributes a relatively small share of global emissions, it remains one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize. Flight demand is expected to grow rapidly by 2030. While new aircraft are up to 20% more efficient than the models they replace, the pace of growth in aviation activity historically exceeds the rate of efficiency gains. At its 41st Assembly, the ICAO adopted the Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) of achieving carbon neutrality in international aviation by 2050, aligning with the goals of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement.

A panel discussion included insights from LI Dongsheng, Chief Engineer of Composites at COMAC; HOU Rui, SAF and Sustainable Business Development Director at Airbus China; XU Jinjin, China Lead at Boeing Global Sustainability Engagements and Partnerships; and WANG Yan, Deputy General Manager of Safran China. These industry leaders shared their experiences and perspectives on advancing sustainability in aviation. On November 7, Mr. QIN Rui, Director of Centre of Low-Altitude Economy and Traffic Research (CLEATS) at Civil Aviation University of China, delivered the keynote speech on Green Aviation Technology Revolution and The NextGen Low-Altitude Economy". Ken Lau, Head of Sustainability of Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific and Middle East, and DUAN Zemin, General Manager of Hefei Hangtai Electrophysics Co., Ltd., also delivered invited speeches.

ZHENG Xuefeng, Director of Chengdu Airborne Equipment Certification Center of CAAC, Michael SUNG, General Manager of Carbon Blue International (UAE), LU Xiaorong, Founder of Shanghai RGL Science and Technology Company, and Richard Watson, Chief Commercial Officer of Electro.Aero and Chair of the International SAE AE-7D Aircraft Energy Storage and Charging Committee, participated in a panel discussion on "Electric Aviation Airworthiness and Commercialization," which was moderated by Henry Hooi, Founder of Volar Air Mobility Holding Company Limited.

Grace Cheung, General Manager of Sustainable Development at Cathay Pacific Airways, WANG Shen, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Green Development, CEO of SAFPAC, Professor YANG Xiaojun from Civil Aviation University of China, and Toshiya Teramoto, Senior Expert, Corporate Sustainability, Kintetsu World Express, Inc., joined the discussion on "SAF Production and Application," moderated by DENG Liangchun, Senior Manager, External Affairs and Sustainability, North Asia, International Air Transport Association (IATA). During the conference, many organizations and enterprises, including Eastern Group, The Second Research Institute of CAAC, Sichuan Tianzhou International Trading Group, Hong Kong SAF Alliance, CarbonBlue International-UAE, Hefei Hangtai Electrophysics Co., Ltd, Zhonghang Shangda Superalloys Co., Ltd., and the World Economic Forum, negotiated and matchmaking sessions. CSAA also promoted activities to organize outstanding small and medium-sized enterprises from China to attend the Paris Airshow next year.

On November 8, some participants visited the Civil Aviation Flight University of China, the Smart Civil Aviation Future Pavilion of the Second Research Institute of CAAC, and Airbus Lifecycle Services Centre for exchange and observation.

The conference was jointly hosted by the China Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics (CSAA) and the International Association for Green Aviation (IAGA, in preparation); co-organized by Beihang University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Civil Aviation University of China, Civil Aviation Flight University of China, Hefei Hangtai Electrophysics Co., Ltd., Zhonghang Shangda Superalloys Co., Ltd., the Science Center, Technical Committee of Artificial Intelligence of CSAA, Technical Committee of Electric Aviation of CSAA, and Technical Committee of Flying Car of CSAA; and supported by the AVIC Xi'an Flight Automatic Control Research Institute, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Aviation Planning and Design Institute (Group ) Co., Ltd, National Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Information Control and Effects, the Chinese Association for Science and Technology's Innovation and Integration Alliance, and many others. The event also received strong support from global organizations including the International Council of Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS), The International Organization for Aerospace Industry Associations (ICCAIA), the Airports Council International (ACI), the China Civil Airports Association (CCAA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), The Second Research Institute of CAAC, the National Green Development Fund, and the Hong Kong Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition (HKSAFC).