Photo: Shutterstock The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will bring aviation, energy, finance, technology and government leaders together in Brussels this October for the fourth World Sustainability Symposium, as the industry continues its push toward net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The event will take place on October 13 and 14, 2026, in the Belgian capital, where many of Europe’s most important aviation and sustainability policies are developed. IATA says the symposium will focus on the practical policies and actions needed to accelerate aviation’s energy transition while maintaining the economic and social benefits of air connectivity.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said the industry’s net zero ambition cannot be achieved by airlines working alone. She highlighted the need for greater renewable energy production, new infrastructure, emerging technologies, investment and policies that consider the wider energy and transport systems.
According to IATA, Europe has established ambitious targets for aviation decarbonization, but some policies do not sufficiently account for the interdependence between transport, energy and other sectors. Holding the symposium in Brussels is therefore intended to bring policymakers and industry representatives closer together and encourage a more coordinated approach.
The 2026 program will focus on three main areas. The first will examine how solutions for aviation’s energy transition can be scaled, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel produced through the HEFA pathway, Low Carbon Aviation Fuels and co-processing.
The second will address policies for creating global, transparent and competitive markets for SAF, carbon credits and other decarbonization solutions.
The third theme will focus on innovation and a broader understanding of aviation’s environmental impact, including emerging technologies, non-CO2 effects and sustainability throughout the aircraft lifecycle.
The speaker lineup includes senior figures from airlines, European institutions, energy organizations, financial bodies and airports. Confirmed participants include LATAM Airlines Group CEO Roberto Alvo, European Commission DG MOVE aviation policy official Eddy Liégeois, European Parliament member Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, International Energy Agency renewable energy division head Paolo Frankl and representatives from IAG, Airbus, Schiphol Airport and other organizations.
For the first time, the World Sustainability Symposium will also take place immediately before IATA’s Wings of Change Europe event at the same venue. WSS participants will receive complimentary access to the October 15 event.
Together, the two gatherings are expected to create a broader discussion around Europe’s aviation future, combining sustainability and decarbonization with competitiveness, connectivity and economic growth.