Sustainability: Airbus Unveils Plans for Zero-Emission Planes

Watch : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC6gYpJIhTA

The airline manufacturer Airbus has unveiled  ambitious plans for the world's first zero-emission aircraft. The aerospace giant predicts its hydrogen-powered commercial airplanes could be in service by 2035. The concept revealed by company engineers shows a shift away from battery power. Many in the industry believe batteries are the way forward for carbon-zero airplanes. However, Airbus says batteries could prove  impractical for large airliners and have opted for hydrogen propulsion. A company spokesperson said the transition to hydrogen would require "decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem". This means redesigned airports and significantly different refuelling infrastructure.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the company has three possible designs, one of which will be adopted as a business enterprise. He said the three "ZEROe" designs represented "a historic moment for the commercial aviation sector as a whole". Mr Faury said: "We intend to play a leading role in the most important transition this industry has ever seen." He added that the use of hydrogen as a fuel had "the potential to significantly reduce aviation's climate impact". Faury was upbeat about the future, saying: "With the support from government and industrial partners, we can rise up to this challenge to scale up renewable energy and hydrogen for the sustainable future of the aviation industry."

1. TAX: Students A strongly believe flights on airplanes should have a high emissions tax; Students B strongly believe not

2. AIRPLANES: What do you think of the services on airplanes? How can they be improved?

	What You Think	Improvements
Seats
Cabin crew
Cleanliness
In-flight entertainment
Airplane food
The decor

 

3.Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.	manufacturer	a.	Showed or announced publicly for the first time.
2.	unveiled	b.	Say or estimate that a specified thing will happen in the future.
3.	ambitious	c.	The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for a country or business to operate.
4.	predict	d.	Having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed.
5.	prove	e.	The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.
6.	transition	f.	A person or company that makes goods for sale.
7.	infrastructure	g.	Show or demonstrate the truth or existence of something by evidence or argument.

    Paragraph 2

8.	adopted	h.	A project or undertaking, usually one that is difficult or requires effort.
9.	enterprise	i.	The flying or operating of aircraft.
10.	aviation	j.	Conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.
11.	sector	k.	Have a course of action as one's purpose or objective; plan.
12.	intend	l.	A part of a nation's economy or society or of an area of activity such as education, tourism, health, aviation, etc.
13.	upbeat	m.	Taken up or started to use or follow an idea, method, or course of action.
14.	sustainable	n.	Optimistic.

 

4. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1. manufacturer
2. predicts
3. concept
4. impractical
5. decisive
6. adopted
7. sector
8. transition
9. upbeat
10. scale up

1. settled on
2. idea
3. expand
4. firm
5. field
6. maker
7. change
8. optimistic
9. anticipates
10. unfeasible

5.ROLE-PLAY:

Role  A – Airplanes You think airplanes are the easiest things to reduce emissions for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as easy. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): homes, farming or electricity production or irrigation.

Role  B – Homes You think homes are the easiest things to reduce emissions for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as easy. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): airplanes, farming or electricity production or irrigation.

Role  C – Farming You think farming is the easiest thing to reduce emissions for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as easy. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): homes, airplanes or electricity production or irrigation.

Role  D – Electricity Production You think electricity production is the easiest thing to reduce emissions for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as easy. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): homes, farming or airplanes or irrigation. Role E - Irrigation You think electricity production is the easiest thing to reduce emissions for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as easy. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): homes, farming or airplanes or irrigation.

6.Discussion - Zero Emissions

1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'emissions'?
2. What do you know about Airbus?
3. How important is the aircraft manufacturing industry?
4. How important are zero-emission airplanes?
5. What do you think of air travel?
6. What do you know about hydrogen power?
7. Why do we travel around the world so much?
8. How else can aviation reduce its carbon footprint?
9. What advice do you have for Airbus?

10.  What would life as Airbus' CEO be like?

11. What historic moments have there been in aviation history?
12. How can air travel be improved?
13. What would life be like without airplanes?
14. What three adjectives best describe this news?
15. What renewable energies show the most promise?