- The UK government
has helped lead the global community to agreement to
reduce emissions from aviation fuel by 5% by 2030 to help drive
international aviation to a sustainable future
- the UK continues to be a leader in the
transition towards cleaner flying and today’s agreement is a
further step towards defining how sustainable aviation
fuel helps us achieve net zero by 2050
- as the world looks to COP28 in Dubai next week, a
new framework will enable countries across the world to
develop their own SAF industries, turning cleaner
flying into a reality worldwide
The world’s aviation community has come together in
Dubai this week and agreed a key next step today (24
November 2023) towards the decarbonisation of our
skies.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) reached
a compromise agreement, at its Third Conference on Aviation
Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) to a framework to reduce emissions
from aviation fuel by 5% by 2030. Contributing to the global
aviation sector’s aim to reach net zero emissions by 2050,
today’s agreement confirms countries’ commitment to scale up the
use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
Today’s agreement outlines the support available
to those countries at the beginning of
their SAF journey
and enables them to take part in the
global aviation energy transition. It’s only through a
shared global ambition that we can scale up and build
the industry we need for the future.
The framework includes a new global target to reduce emissions by
5% by 2030 using cleaner fuels. This is underpinned by a
comprehensive package of policies and supporting measures to
ensure all regions of the world can start
producing and using SAF as soon as possible.
The UK played a
leading role in the negotiations and, working with our
allies, stressed the importance of achieving our
collective global aspirations on decarbonisation.
The UK remains committed to
further action in this area, with our
domestic SAF mandate requiring
10% SAF in
the UK fuel mix by
2030, delivering a 7% reduction in carbon emissions. Last week,
we announced a further £53 million from our
Advanced Fuels Fund to scale up the UK SAF industry and help
see 5 commercial SAF plants under
construction by 2025. We also launched the UK Clearing House, a national hub to
support the testing and approval of new advanced fuels for
aviation.
UK Aviation
Minister, , said:
Sustainable aviation is a promise that the global
sector wants to make a reality – that’s why today’s agreement is
so important – not only giving a
renewed commitment to delivering a net zero future,
but outlining the next steps in
the industry’s flightpath towards it.
While the UK sought to
secure greater ambition, this is a
significant moment in our path to sustainable flying.
The UK remains
steadfast in its commitment to
decarbonise international aviation.
This deal shows that, when the world comes together and
cooperates, we can bring about real change.
Demonstrating the UK’s
climate leadership, Aviation Minister chaired a meeting
of the UK-convened
International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition and
addressed the conference on the opening day. The
coalition has a diverse membership of 62 governments
and organisations committed to leading the way to net zero
aviation by 2050.
The agreement reached provides clear,
short-term direction for both investors and operators
who
are already transitioning and gives confidence to
those looking to invest in cleaner aviation
fuels. ICAO will
reconvene by 2028 to further bolster and build upon the
agreements set out today.
A future of sustainable flying is already becoming a
reality as the industry gears up for the first
100% SAF-powered transatlantic flight,
with up to £1 million of support from government.
The flight, operated by Virgin Atlantic in partnership with
technical partners, will fly from London Heathrow
to John F. Kennedy International Airport on 28 November
2023.
