Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Gina McCarthy, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese met virtually with airline executives Friday to discuss reducing carbon emissions and using biofuels, among other issues. White House officials were “grateful and optimistic to hear airline leaders share information about the industry’s ongoing and future efforts to address climate change, and they offered the Administration’s support to strengthen and advance the airlines’ climate goals,” according to a readout.

Industry says: Airlines for America, an industry trade group, released a statement after the meeting pledging to work with the Biden administration on climate goals and highlighting its members’ commitment to a 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050, as compared to 2005 levels. Delta and American separately announced Friday that they had partnered with Deloitte to reduce emissions through sustainable fuel use.

And yet: It isn’t enough, according to at least one environmental group. “Biofuels are false solutions that don’t decarbonize air travel,” according to Clare Lakewood, climate legal director for the Center for Biological Diversity. “Real action on aircraft emissions requires phasing out dirty, aging aircraft, maximizing efficiencies and funding the rapid development of electrification.”