The Boeing Company intends to continue growing its business without increasing its environmental footprint, Kim Smith, Boeing vice president of environment, health and safety, announced while visiting Qatar and the rest of the region recently.
Since the start of 2008, Boeing has reduced cumulative carbon dioxide emissions by more than 400,000 metric tons while increasing monthly airplane production by 35 percent, said Smith, Boeing’s leader for environmental sustainability.
The CO2 reduction is the equivalent of removing 80,000 cars from the road for one year.
Between 2008 and 2012, Boeing also implemented conservation efforts and successfully reduced water use by more than 2 billion liters — enough to fill more than 800 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
“Over the next few years, we intend to continue increasing airplane production without expanding our environmental footprint,” Smith said, announcing that Boeing is committing to zero-carbon growth from operations for the period 2013 to 2017.
Boeing also reaffirmed its commitment to help the global airline industry meet its goal of achieving zero-carbon growth after the year 2020.
It is estimated that commercial air travel accounts for between 2 and 3 percent of global CO2 emissions.
To reduce the environmental footprint of aerospace, Boeing is focusing on new technologies such as:
Light-weight, more-efficient airplanes such as the 787 Dreamliner, the new 747-8 and the 737 MAX — each of which offer double-digit improvements in fuel economy and carbon emissions compared to the airplanes they replace.
Promoting the development and commercialization of sustainable aviation biofuels derived from sea grasses, algae and other substances that don’t compete with food crops for land or water.
Modernizing the global air traffic management system, with the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of commercial air travel by 12 percent.
It is estimated that reducing the length of the average flight by one minute would reduce annual CO2 emissions by nearly 4.4 metric tons.
“Airlines, research institutions and companies in the region are leaders in developing a cleaner future for the global aviation industry,” Smith said.
“The region’s airlines operate some of the world’s modern, most-fuel efficient fleets of aircraft. They are actively developing cleaner, alternative aviation fuels,” Smith added.
“These airlines are devoted to recycling, conserving water and reducing emissions in their operations. And they are leading participants in international efforts to minimize the environmental footprint of aviation.”
Boeing reaffirms commitment to zero-carbon growth
Boeing reaffirms commitment to zero-carbon growth
Jordan’s industry fuels 39% of Q2 GDP growth
JEDDAH: Jordan’s industrial sector emerged as a major contributor to economic performance in 2025, accounting for 39 percent of gross domestic product growth in the second quarter and 92 percent of national exports.
Manufactured exports increased 8.9 percent year on year during the first nine months of 2025, reaching 6.4 billion Jordanian dinars ($9 billion), driven by stronger external demand. The expansion aligns with the country’s Economic Modernization Vision, which aims to position the country as a regional hub for high-value industrial exports, the Jordan News Agency, known as Petra, quoted the Jordan Chamber of Industry President Fathi Jaghbir as saying.
Export growth was broad-based, with eight of 10 industrial subsectors posting gains. Food manufacturing, construction materials, packaging, and engineering industries led performance, supported by expanded market access across Europe, Arab countries, and Africa.
In 2025, Jordanian industrial products reached more than 144 export destinations, including emerging Asian and African markets such as Ethiopia, Djibouti, Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan. Arab countries accounted for 42 percent of industrial exports, with Saudi Arabia remaining the largest market at 955 million dinars.
Exports to Syria rose sharply to nearly 174 million dinars, while shipments to Iraq and Lebanon totaled approximately 745 million dinars. Demand from advanced markets also strengthened, with exports to India reaching 859 million dinars and Italy about 141 million dinars.
Industrial output also showed steady improvement. The industrial production index rose 1.47 percent during the first nine months of 2025, led by construction industries at 2.7 percent, packaging at 2.3 percent, and food and livestock-related industries at 1.7 percent.
Employment gains accompanied the sector’s expansion, with more than 6,000 net new manufacturing jobs created during the period, lifting total industrial employment to approximately 270,000 workers. Nearly half of the new jobs were generated in food manufacturing, reflecting export-driven growth.
Jaghbir said industrial exports remain among the economy’s highest value-added activities, noting that every dinar invested generates an estimated 2.17 dinars through employment, logistics, finance, and supply-chain linkages. The sector also plays a critical role in narrowing the trade deficit and supporting macroeconomic stability.
Investment activity accelerated across several subsectors in 2025, including food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining, textiles, and leather, as manufacturers expanded capacity and upgraded production lines to meet rising demand.
Jaghbir attributed part of the sector’s momentum to government measures aimed at strengthening competitiveness and improving the business environment. Key steps included freezing reductions in customs duties for selected industries, maintaining exemptions for production inputs, reinstating tariffs on goods with local alternatives, and imposing a 16 percent customs duty on postal parcels to support domestic producers.
Additional incentives in industrial cities and broader structural reforms were also cited as improving the investment climate, reducing operational burdens, and balancing consumer needs with protection of local industries.
