Tuesday, December 3, 2024
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Government refreshes sustainable aviation plans

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh will launch refreshed plans today to tackle aviation emissions with a new group to advance sustainable solutions today (25 November).

Haigh will provide a “new structure” to the Jet Zero Taskforce, aligning with the government’s missions to make the UK a clean energy “superpower and kickstart the economy”, it said.

Set to meet on 4 December, it will feature an annual CEO-level meeting chaired by the Transport Secretary to set priorities for the Taskforce and review progress.

Members will include Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband, CEOs of major airlines, such as easyJet and Virgin, airports like Heathrow and Manchester, as well as fuel producers, trade bodies and leading universities. 

Underneath the executive level will be a smaller, focused expert group of sustainability leaders to support the Taskforce’s priorities. It will be chaired by Mike Kane MP, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security, and Holly Boyd-Boland, VP of Corporate Development at Virgin Atlantic. 

Building on the previous Jet Zero Council, the taskforce will support the production and delivery of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and zero emission flights, as well as look at how to improve aviation systems to make them more efficient. It will also explore the sector’s demand for greenhouse gas removals and the non-CO2 impacts of aviation, such as the environmental impact of vapour trails.

It comes as the Department for Transport said it would invest up to £450,000 to support aviation decarbonisation measures in other countries and a new UK target to reduce emissions by 81% by 2035, set at COP29 in Azerbaijan. Last week, the SAF Mandate was officially signed into law, requiring an increasing amount of SAF in overall jet fuel from 1 January 2025. By 2040, 22 per cent of all jet fuel must come from sustainable sources.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: 

“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.” 

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, 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.”

Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, said:

“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.” 

VP of Corporate Development at Virgin Atlantic Holly 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.”

Image from Shutterstock

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