Climate Lobbying Overview: Boeing in 2019-21 appears to have mixed engagement with climate regulation for the aviation sector. Boeing appears to prioritize global climate regulations for aviation, including a CO2 emissions standard for aircraft, at the expense of more ambitious action at a national and regional level. Boeing also retains memberships to several industry associations actively opposing regulatory intervention on climate, including policy relating to international aviation.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: In its 2020 Environment Report, Boeing endorsed the need for GHG emissions reductions for aviation, supporting an industry-wide goal of reducing emissions from the sector by 50% by 2050 compared to 2005. It is of note that, according to the IPCC, global net CO2 emissions should reach net zero around 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5°C, rising to 2070 for a 2°C target. In 2020, Boeing also continued to communicate top-line support for the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), under which airlines must buy offsets for emissions beyond average baseline emissions of 2019, and/or use ‘CORSIA eligible’ fuels (a voluntary scheme until 2027). Boeing does not appear to have stated explicit recent support for the Paris Agreement.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: In 2019-21 Boeing has had mixed engagement with specific climate regulations in the EU and US. In 2020, according to media reports, Boeing led advocacy for the US to certify ICAO’s global CO2 standard for aircraft into US law. However, this support appears to be qualified by major exceptions, urging the US government in a 2020 consultation response not to introduce a more ambitious CO2 standard than set by ICAO, and to delay the regulatory standard-setting date for certain aircraft.

Boeing stated opposition to introducing an EU mandate for sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) in an April 2020 consultation response, citing competitiveness concerns. Similarly, in an October 2020 response to the RefuelEU aviation consultation, Boeing stated “we caution against imposing a minimum share of sustainable fuel in the form of mandates”, arguing that “without mechanisms to advance production and R&D, a blending mandate is premature”. However, in October 2020, as part of the Clean Skies for Tomorrow initiative, Boeing appeared to endorse an EU sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending mandate alongside other measures to increase European SAF supply and demand. In the US, an E&E article suggested Boeing lobbied against the Oregon cap and trade system in 2019, with Boeing stating it would “significantly increase energy costs” to its operations.

Positioning on Energy Transition: Boeing appears to have positive recent engagement on measures to decarbonize aviation. In 2020, as part of the Clean Skies for Tomorrow initiative, Boeing appeared to endorse an EU sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending mandate alongside other measures to increase European SAF supply and demand. In a joint 2020 letter to ICAO, Boeing advocated for “broad agreement” on measures to encourage the development of SAFs without stating positions on specific policy measures.

Industry Association Governance: Boeing publicly discloses a limited list of its memberships to industry associations on its website without disclosing its direct engagement with them on climate change, their climate policy positions, nor the company’s role within each association. In 2021 a senior executive from Boeing is on the board of the National Association of Manufacturers and Boeing remains a member of the US Chamber of Commerce, both of which are actively lobbying against US climate policy. Boeing is also a strategic partner of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) which has consistently opposed ambitious climate policy for international aviation. Boeing has not published a review of its alignment with its industry associations.