The government has unveiled new targets to reduce aviation’s carbon emissions and prevent them from increasing above pre-pandemic levels in future.
Its Jet Zero strategy will introduce a mandate to ensure that at least 10% of jet fuel is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030.
Launched at the Farnborough International Airshow on Tuesday (July 19), the strategy commits UK domestic aviation to achieving net zero emissions by 2040, and for all airports in England to be zero-emission by the same year.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “We want 2019 to be remembered as the peak year for aviation emissions. From now on, it should all be downhill for carbon emissions – and steadily uphill for green flights.
“The UK is setting an example of the ambition needed to tackle climate change, and the Jet Zero Strategy provides a clear path to building a greener aviation sector for generations to come.
“Rather than clipping the sector’s wings, our pathway recognises that decarbonisation offers huge economic benefits, creating the jobs and industries of the future making sure UK businesses are at the forefront of this green revolution.”
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng added: “It is also clear the global shift to cleaner forms of flight represents a huge opportunity to secure growth and jobs for the UK.”
The six priority areas set out in the strategy are:
• Improving the efficiency of the UK existing aviation system, from aircraft to airports and airspace. The government will provide a further £3.7 million in 2022-23 to support airports to modernise their airspace.
• Increasing support for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), through the SAF mandate and a new £165 million Advanced Fuels Fund.
• Supporting the development of zero-emission aircraft, with the aspiration of having zero-emission routes connecting places across the UK by 2030.
• Developing carbon markets and greenhouse gas removal technologies to drive decarbonisation and offset any residual emissions, including by enhancing the UK Emission Trade Scheme (UK ETS).
• Providing consumers with better information so they can make sustainable aviation choices.
• Increasing our understanding of the non-CO2 impacts of aviation, such as contrails and nitrogen oxides.
The Jet Zero Strategy builds on the prime minister’s Net Zero Strategy, the UK’s economy-wide plan for achieving net zero emissions by 2050, as well as the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which outlines the commitments and actions needed to decarbonise the entire transport system.
Charlie Cornish, Manchester Airport Group chief executive, said: “The publication of the Jet Zero Strategy is a key milestone in our sector’s drive towards a net zero carbon future.
“We are proud to play a leading role in the Jet Zero Council, which brings together government and industry to share ideas and innovation to ensure we make this strategy a reality.
“MAG is committed to delivering on its own Jet Zero pledges, as well as working with collaboratively across our industry to achieve the