A refreshed plan to tackle aviation emissions has been unveiled by transport secretary Louise Haigh with a new Jet Zero Taskforce dedicated to advancing sustainable aviation.
Members will include business and trade the secretary Jonathan Reynolds, energy security and net zero secretary Ed Miliband, chief executives of major airlines, such as easyJet and Virgin Atlantic, airports including Heathrow and Manchester, as well as fuel producers, trade bodies and leading universities.
An annual CEO-level meeting chaired by Haigh will set priorities and review progress.
The taskforce aims to build on the previous Jet Zero Council by supporting the production and delivery of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and zero emission flights, as well as looking into improving aviation systems to make them more efficient.
It will also explore the sector’s demand for greenhouse gas removal and the non-CO2 impacts of aviation, such as vapour trails.
Set to meet for the first time on December 4, SAF will be high on the agenda. A SAF mandate was last week signed into law, requiring an increasing amount of SAF in overall jet fuel from January 1.
Almost a quarter of all jet fuel (22%) must come from sustainable sources – whether that be from household waste or by using power-to-liquid technology – by 2040 under the mandate
The Department for Transport said: “The diverse membership has been specifically chosen to represent all corners of the industry – ensuring no stone is left unturned on the journey to sustainable aviation.”
Underneath the executive level will be a smaller expert group of sustainability leaders to support the Taskforce’s priorities, chaired by aviation minister Mike Kane and Virgin Atlantic corporate development vice president Holly Boyd-Boland.
Haigh said: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face, and together with industry, I am determined to build an aviation sector that’s future-ready and better for the planet.
“We need to make flying a cleaner, greener experience and the new and improved Jet Zero Taskforce will be the driving force behind this transition.
“I look forward to working with all members to deliver meaningful changes that will boost our economy and make the UK a global leader in sustainable travel.”
Airlines UK chief executive Tim Alderslade said: “The UK can lead the way in net zero aviation, ensuring our world-class aviation and aerospace companies can continue to support a growing UK economy and industrial base and provide families the chance to travel long into the future.
“Collaboration with government and across the whole sector and supply chain is vital to making the rapid progress we need, and we look forward to working with the new Taskforce to help usher in a new era of sustainable air travel, with all the jobs and investment that entails.”
AirtportsUK chief executive of Karen Dee said: “This taskforce, which will build on the work of the previous body, will continue to ensure government and industry collaborate to deliver on our net zero carbon commitments and that future aviation is sustainable.
The UK is positioned well to take advantage of the entirely new sectors that sustainable aviation will create, generating new jobs and economic growth while reducing emissions from international travel.
UK airports are already doing a lot to reduce their carbon emissions, from electrifying vehicles, generating their own renewable energy and greening terminal operations, and this group will continue to help identify and eliminate obstacles to further progress.”
This ambitious and pragmatic target will strengthen the UK’s position as a place for investment, delivering jobs and economic growth.
Boyd-Boland said: “As Virgin Atlantic demonstrated with Flight100 last year, decarbonising our sector requires radical collaboration – a shared goal, underpinned by a bias to action. Aviation can play a significant role in delivering the government’s missions for economic growth and clean energy.
“Taking up the role of industry chair is a huge privilege and I look forward to working alongside government, with its renewed focus and leadership of the Jet Zero Taskforce. Together, we can harness the ambition across industry to achieve net zero 2050.”
The launch comes as the department invests up to £450,000 to support aviation decarbonisation measures in other countries, such as helping developing states develop policy and access financing for sustainable aviation fuel, as well as to offset carbon emissions from international flights.
This follows a new UK target to reduce emissions by 81% by 2035, set at COP29 in Azerbaijan.
One week before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) marks its 80th anniversary, the secretary general, Juan Carlos Salazar Gómez, is visiting the UK and will sign a memorandum of understanding with the UK, covering all areas of UK-ICAO co-operation.
Both he and the Haigh are attending the Airlines 2024 conference today (Monday).