Ian Jopson, Sustainability Director at NATS reflects on Sustainable Skies World Summit 2026, where he presented to industry attendees on the role airspace modernisation and non-CO₂ contribute to shaping the future of sustainable air travel.

At NATS, being a responsible business isn’t just a commitment or policy; it is a core part of who we are and how we work every day. Our latest Responsible Business Report makes this clear and outlines the significant progress we’ve made across the organisation over the past financial year (2024/25).

Earlier this year, we rolled out the Air Traffic Management Portal, ATM-P for short, a cutting-edge platform designed to enhance collaboration between the Flow Management Team at NATS, who ensure airspace sector capacity is safely balanced with demand.

The aviation industry is at a pivotal moment. With the climate crisis accelerating, airlines, regulators, fuel producers, and technology innovators gathered once again at the Sustainable Skies World Congress to discuss how aviation can continue moving toward net zero emissions by 2050.

Recently we published an update to our 5-Year Transition plan, which sets out our path towards being a carbon negative business. Our aim is to be net zero by 2035 and carbon negative by 2040, and to work with our customers, partners and suppliers to achieve a net zero aviation industry by 2050.

Last week I attended the Sustainable Skies World Summit in Farnborough where SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), hydrogen propulsion and new technology led the conversation.

Sustainability is something close to my heart, made all the more prominent thanks to my experience with the topic, having previously studied for my PhD in Marine Biology. I’ve always felt strongly about wanting to preserve and protect the world in which we live, and how seemingly small changes can lead to a larger result.

We’re excited to share something new with the ATM community in Geneva next week – an offer from NATS to help create the world’s first truly global index of airspace efficiency.

Over the past few years, the Operational Service Enhancements Project (OSEP) has been quietly but significantly transforming airspace operations, culminating in tangible benefits for both operational efficiency and the environment.

Last week, I was at the Wings India event in Hyderabad alongside other sustainability leaders from across aviation. My message was that this must be a decade of action on climate change for our industry and ATM has a leading role to play.