The greening of air transport sector needs a global coalition

(MENAFN - Gulf Times) As a worldwide connector of peoples and businesses, and one heavily relied upon to promote economic growth at scales that permit meaningful sustainability investments by global societies, the air transport sector has a key role to play in the world’s post-pandemic green transition. Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) are seen as one of the most promising and effective tools to achieve current decarbonisation objectives, including biofuels, fuels generated from waste products, and even fuels derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).  Addressing a World Economic Forum (WEF) Ministerial meeting on sustainable aviation fuels recently, International Civil Aviation Organisation secretary general Dr Fang Liu said, ''ICAO is leading the way in helping countries explore and assess the best possible options to achieve aviation decarbonisation rapidly and sustainably.” Air transport accounts for 2% of global man-made CO2 emissions. In 2017, civil aviation, as a whole, emitted around 859mn tonnes of CO2, which is roughly 2% of man-made carbon emissions. It is estimated that (under the industry’s trend setting initiative CORSIA or Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation – a global carbon offsetting scheme) aviation will have to offset 2.6bn tonnes of CO2 between 2021 and 2035. The world must ''build back better” from the Covid-19 crisis with attention focused on investment in carbon reduction technologies and in SAF, which according to the International Air Transport Association, will create jobs at this critical time and boost aviation’s progress towards its goal to cut aviation emissions to half 2005 levels by 2050. Current SAF production is 50mn litres annually, according to an IATA estimate. To reach a tipping point, where the scale of production will see SAF costs drop to levels competitive with jet fuel, the production needs to reach 7bn litres or 2% of 2019 consumption, the global trade body of airlines say. Experts note the current production rates of Sustainable Aviation Fuels are too low for aviation to reach this goal despite SAF’s proven potential and airline efforts to date. It is proven that SAF can cut CO2 lifecycle emissions up to 80% compared with conventional jet fuel. It uses sustainable fuel sources, which do not compete with food or water, or damage biodiversity. Due to extensive testing and investment from airlines, SAF are certified as safe, sustainable, and ready-to-use. Over 250,000 flights have already taken off with a blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuels, IATA noted. SAF, Liu said are seen as one of the most promising and effective tools to achieve current decarbonisation objectives, including biofuels, fuels generated from waste products, and even fuels derived from atmospheric CO2.  As the move to SAFs must be a global transition, effective knowledge sharing and capacity building will be just as essential to successful outcomes in some cases as the most advanced technological breakthroughs. Since SAF capacities at levels now currently needed for international air transport will require major investments globally, ICAO has created a global coalition for sustainable aviation, which also unites leading SAF pioneers. In short, the greening of the air transport sector has to proceed in a manner that doesn’t disconnect our world, its peoples, or economies.MENAFN22052021000067011011ID1102117207