GovWire

The new Jet Zero strategy sets ambitious green targets to ensure passengers will be able to fly guilt-free in the future.

Launched at Farnborough International Airshow, 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.

It also includes a plan for the industry to stay below pre-pandemic levels of carbon emissions through measures focused on everything from delivering system efficiencies to new technologies, with progress monitored annually.

Aviation is currently responsible for around 2.5% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. With the sector contributing 22 billion to our economy and set to grow as it recovers from the pandemic, the Jet Zero strategy provides the tools to help future-proof the aviation sector, deliver guilt-free air travel and create thousands more green jobs around the country.

The whole economy will benefit as new, cutting-edge industries develop and new infrastructure is built to meet our ambitious targets, including the governments commitment to having at least 5 commercial-scale SAF plants under construction in the UK by 2025.

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 sectors wings, our pathway recognises that decarbonisation offers huge economic benefits, creating the jobs and industries of the future and making sure UK businesses are at the forefront of this green revolution.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

This strategy provides the clear vision and leadership required to tackle one of the great industrial challenges of our time, decarbonisation of aviation. Importantly, it is also clear the global shift to cleaner forms of flight represents a huge opportunity to secure growth and jobs for the UK.

Through the ambitious steps outlined in this strategy and close collaboration with our world-leading industrial and innovation base, the UK stands ready to capitalise on first mover status, seizing the economic benefits of a green aviation revolution.

The 6 priority areas set out in the strategy are:

1. Improving the efficiency of our existing aviation system, from aircraft to airports and airspace. For example, we will improve fuel efficiency by 2% every year and are providing a further 3.7 million in 2022 to 2023 to support airports to modernise their airspace.

2. Increasing support for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), by creating secure and growing UK SAF demand through a SAF mandate that will require at least 10% of jet fuel to be made from sustainable sources by 2030 and kickstarting a domestic SAF industry, supported by the new 165 million Advanced Fuels Fund.

3. Supporting the development of zero-emission aircraft, with the aspiration of having zero-emission routes connecting places across the UK by 2030.

4. 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).

5. Providing consumers with better information so they can make sustainable aviation choices. We will publish a call for evidence on our proposal to provide consumers with environmental information at the time of booking air travel in autumn 2022.

6. Increasing our understanding of the non-CO2 impacts of aviation, such as contrails and nitrogen oxides. The effects of these remain uncertain so we will work closely with academia and industry to monitor global developments in this area, increase our understanding, potential mitigations and explore a means of tracking these emissions.

The Jet Zero strategy builds on the Prime Ministers Net Zero strategy, the UKs 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.

As part of the strategy, the government has announced today a new mandate for at least 10% SAF to be blended into conventional aviation fuels by the end of the decade.

Made from waste materials such as household waste, sewage or used cooking oil, these fuels offer, on average, greenhouse gas emissions savings of more than 70% compared to conventional fossil jet fuel when fully replacing kerosene.

SAF is a core part of the Jet Zero strategy, and from today pioneering projectslookingto produce SAF in the UK can bid for a share of the new 165 million Advanced Fuels Fund. Building on the progress of the 15 million Green Fuels, Green Skies competition, this new funding will help us achieve our aim to have at least 5 commercial SAF plants under construction in the UK by 2025.

Innovative projects will harness engineering expertise to produce millions of litres of SAF every year, supporting thousands of green jobs in our industrial heartlands, improving UK fuel security and putting us at the forefront of the emerging global SAF industry.

Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS Group, said:

A clear strategy for the UK that focuses on a broad range of measures through which aviation can decarbonise is a welcome step forward towards net zero aviation by 2050. The UK aerospace community is committed and ready to deliver on the promise of sustainable aviation.

This will include the development and realisation of zero-emission technologies that will play a central part of the decarbonisation journey, alongside sustainable aviation fuels and improvements in system efficiencies.

ADS and our members look forward to working with partners in industry, academia and government to solidify the UKs place as a world leader in green aviation.

Julie Kitcher, EVP Communications and Corporate Affairs, Airbus, said:

Decarbonising aviation is a significant challenge, but the Jet Zero strategy provides a clear goal for the sector whilst driving forward the development of the different technological pathways needed to make net zero aviation emissions by 2050 a reality. The time to act is now. Working together, we will succeed.

Warren East, CEO of Rolls-Royce plc, said:

As a member of the Jet Zero Council and the Zero Emission Flight Delivery Group, Rolls-Royce is committed to working across industry and with government to decarbonise aviation.

We welcome the ambition set out in the Jet Zero strategy and the framework that will support the sector to deliver the technologies and innovation required to achieve our collective net zero aviation ambitions.

This strategy positions the UK

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