Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the aviation industry was responsible for 2-3% of all GMG emissions. However, now that things are slowly starting to get back to normal in some countries, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that more people will travel in this decade by air. Not only will there be an increase in flights, but those millennials on board are consumers who prefer to book a flight with a sustainable company that shares the values.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is currently made from biogenic materials or through innovative SAF technologies, like power-to-liquid from recycled CO2 and carbon-capture technologies. These commercially available fuels can reduce GHG emissions by 80% compared to fossil fuels, offering airlines a green alternative to flying. However, SAF supply is limited: only approximately 0.05% of total EU jet fuel consumption. Additionally, this slow growth due to limited supply can hinder the rapidness of how we achieve global climate objectives.
Nevertheless, the World Economic Forum, along with industry partners and the RMI, developed a new framework that will incentivize the air-travel industry to use SAF through a system of certificates. The project, named Clean Skis for Tomorrow, will enable corporations to reduce their emissions while opening up sustainable flying opportunities to their consumers, as well as easing access to SAF supply. Joukje Janssen, Partner, PwC Netherlands, believes that: “By purchasing these certificates, companies and private individuals contribute to emission reductions in aviation because these purchases generate new income for the accelerated increase of SAF production capacity.”
Pedro Gomez from the World Economic Forum stated that “Clean Skies for Tomorrow was founded to accelerate the deployment of SAF and aviation’s net-zero pathway. Consumer demand for sustainable air travel is a critical part of that pathway and SAFc was specifically designed to enable a clear and consistent market demand signal.”
To reach net-zero flying by 2050 would secure the aviation industry’s competitiveness and resilience, as well as helping ensure a sustainable future.
