A study released by the climate advocacy group Transport and Environment on Monday suggests that air passengers are expected to double by 2050. This will increase fuel demand and undermine aviation industry efforts to reduce emissions.

The Brussels-based organization urged the European Union, as industry leaders meet this week at an annual finance event in Dublin where plane sales are expected.

Jo Dardenne said to Reuters:

“It’s about time we put an end this addiction to growing.”

The report suggested that steps to slow down the rapid growth of air travel include limiting airport infrastructure and corporate travel, while increasing taxes.

The airline industry, responsible for about 2,5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, has pledged to use more sustainable aviation (SAF) fuels in an effort to reduce emissions and achieve net zero by 2050. The greener fuel is not used much because of its scarcity and high prices, which are up to five-times higher than traditional jet oil.

The report published on Monday said that industry fuel use is forecast to increase 59 per cent from 2019 levels in 2050, as passenger numbers continue to grow. Airbus and Boeing are predicting high growth in the coming years, and with more planes in flight, emissions will increase despite more efficient planes and SAF.

Dardenne stated that the more they grow the further they move away from it. At this pace, they will still burn two billion barrels per year of oil in 2050 despite using SAF.

Airbus and Boeing have not responded to a Reuters’ request for comment. The industry has repeatedly rejected requests to curtail growth. It argues that the sector’s importance to global connectivity and economic development is too great to be curtailed.

In response to the report, a spokesperson for the trade body Airlines for Europe said:

“Instead of speculative or selective projections decades in the future, we should focus on implementing concrete solutions today.”

The spokesperson said that such solutions would reduce the impact of aviation while preserving benefits.