Reaching climate targets difficult, but not impossible for aviation

June 10, 2022

Climate change activists are normally highly sceptical about the aviation industry’s net zero targets, instead demanding that air travel be suppressed and in some cases even calling for it to be treated as a “social ill” like the alcohol or tobacco industries (see a recent newsletter).

Now, the International Council on Clean Transportation (the ICCT) has said that the industry’s targets are possible, albeit very challenging.

In a report that has just been published, the ICCT laid out three different scenarios and roadmaps.

The most ambitious one sees aviation’s cumulative emissions being consistent with the 1.75ºC pathway under which aviation doesn’t increase its share of a global carbon budget.

However, to reach that target, the industry’s fossil fuel use will have to peak in 2025, so in only three years from now.

The most ambitious (breakthrough) scenario envisages sustained Govt intervention to foster investments in zero carbon aircraft and fuels..

This scenario also predicts fuel and price increases due to the volume of SAF needed

Under the Breakthrough scenario, fuel costs increase by 34% and 70% in 2030 and 2050, respectively, due to the adoption of these more expensive fuels.

The ICCT’s Aviation Program Director, Dan Rutherford, will be talking to Shashank Nigam in an upcoming episode of the Sustainability in the Air podcast.

Pratt & Whitney has been a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. They focus on improving engine efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

In this episode of our ‘Sustainability in the Air’ podcast, Pratt and Whitney’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Graham Webb speaks with SimpliFlying CEO, Shashank Nigam, and discusses the company’s sustainability strategy.

In the interview, Graham Webb advises CEOs to make sustainability decisions based on their fleet composition.

He encourages them to renew their older fleet to more efficient and sustainable engines like the geared turbofan engines.

He emphasises the need to engage in and support policies that build and enhance the production of SAF. By doing so, CEOs can contribute to better procurement techniques and appropriate pricing of SAF.

Webb also encourages CEOs to always be on the lookout for newer, efficient technologies that will help push the aviation sector in a more sustainable direction.

You can listen to the full podcast here.

Positive story of the day

Wizz Air and Airbus sign an agreement on hydrogen-powered aircraft operations (Aviation 24)