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ARTICLE · 16 JULY 2026

Sustainability In Aerospace And Defence: Driving A Low-carbon Future

Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
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Gowling WLG

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The aerospace and defence sector faces one of the most challenging decarbonisation journeys in the global economy, yet its advanced technologies are simultaneously enabling critical environmental solutions worldwide. From satellites monitoring deforestation to drones supporting reforestation and autonomous vehicles tracking ocean health, the industry's expertise extends far beyond its own emissions reduction efforts. How can organisations balance the dual imperatives of operational performance and environme

United KingdomEnvironment
Ben Stansfield
Ben Stansfield
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When speaking of sustainability, aerospace and defence is frequently cast as part of the problem — a sector facing one of the hardest decarbonisation challenges in the global economy and frequently cited as a substantial source of emissions. There is, however, an additional perspective, often overlooked: beyond the adaptation solutions already in development (sustainable aviation fuels, next-generation engine efficiency, advanced materials, and the electrification of light aircraft), the sector's deep expertise in remote sensing, drone technology, and complex systems engineering makes it a powerful enabler of global sustainability efforts.

The decarbonisation agenda is widely accepted as being mission-critical and features high on the board agendas of most businesses operating in the sector. Less well known is how the same technologies that underpin modern aerospace and defence are being repurposed to tackle environmental challenges well beyond the norm: satellites monitoring

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