A new dawn for cleaner air travel.

Worldwide, in the year leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, flights produced 915 million tonnes of CO2.

It is clear that we must significantly reduce emissions from aviation, and transport more broadly, on our journey to NetZero. The solution is perhaps not that people should stop travelling – the aviation sector is worth approximately $841bn per year, and travel is essential for business, much-needed holidays, and keeping loved ones connected.

Attempts to tackle this issue from an emissions offsetting perspective have been ben challenging. For example, according the International Air Transport Association, the typical take-up for voluntary offsetting schemes lies between 1-3% of all airline customers.

The hunt for solutions has been ongoing for a number of years. Now, leading organisations from around the world are leading the way by ploughing efforts into cleaner aviation fuels, which can contribute to up to 50% of a flight’s fuel. According to NATA, it’s estimated that more sustainable fuels could contribute around 65% of the reduction in emissions needed by aviation to reach net-zero in 2050.

Better yet, rapidly scaling up production of these fuels around the world will not only help to bring down upfront costs but create new energy markets around the world. Currently, 90% of the world’s fossil resources are found in 22 countries, but with cleaner aviation fuels you can use municipal waste from almost anywhere in the world.

Yet, there is a crucial link to the clean aviation revolution – a cohesive, joined-up approach between Governments. Around the world, most Governments acknowledge the importance of taking up cleaner fuels, and the need for clear aligned global pathways.

We cannot achieve a global Clean Economy without an aviation revolution. The key issue for the future of cleaner aviation fuels is not demand, it’s supply – and business and the private sector have the ability to take a leading role on this.