Dubai, UAE — The next chapter of aviation will not be defined by flying farther, but by flying smarter, cleaner and more efficiently. This message took center stage at CARE MENA 2025 during the fireside chat “Building Sustainable Aviation Ecosystems: Innovation, Infrastructure, and Impact.”
The session explored what it truly takes to build aviation systems capable of meeting net-zero ambitions — and the answer is clear: technology, infrastructure and human capability must evolve together.
Shaping Tomorrow’s Airports Through Low-Carbon Innovation
Sven Deckers, Director of Sustainability at Dubai Airports, detailed how one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs is shifting toward:
- Low-carbon and energy-efficient airport infrastructure
- Smarter operational models that reduce emissions and improve flow
- Advanced systems integration to optimize energy, mobility and service delivery
- Cross-sector collaboration to scale sustainable aviation solutions faster
Deckers emphasized that sustainability is now a core performance metric for airport operations — not an optional initiative.
Leadership and Capability Are Just as Critical as Technology
Adding a complementary perspective, Alice Spencer, Executive Director of Education at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), underscored that aviation’s transition depends on people as much as engineering.
She highlighted the urgent need for:
- Future-ready leaders who understand climate risk and sustainable strategy
- Upskilling programs that build sustainability expertise across aviation roles
- Stronger organizational culture that supports innovation and adoption
- Education platforms that equip the sector to adapt at pace
Her message was decisive:
Aviation cannot reach a net-zero future without building sustainability capability at every level of the ecosystem.
A Holistic Blueprint for the Future of Flight
Moderated by Nasreen Abdulla of Khaleej Times, the discussion connected the dots between infrastructure, innovation and human capital, offering a clear vision for how the industry can accelerate its sustainable transformation.
The session reinforced that the future of aviation will be shaped by:
- Smart, low-carbon infrastructure
- Next-generation operational efficiency
- Policy and regulatory innovation
- Skilled, sustainability-driven leadership
- Collaboration across airports, airlines, regulators and education institutions
Together, these elements form the blueprint for a net-zero aviation ecosystem.
Stay tuned for more live updates from #CARE2025.
For details, visit careforsustainability.com/mena
#CAREMENA #CARE2025 #SustainableAviation #AviationInnovation #ClimateAction #Dubai #NetZeroAviation #FutureOfFlight
