I’m announcing the Jet Zero strategy today (19 July 2022) to outline how this government plans to achieve net zero aviation by 2050.
The Transport decarbonisation plan, which outlines the commitments and actions required to decarbonise the entire transport system, and the government’s Net Zero strategy are built upon.
With the help of the Jet Zero strategy, the industry will be on a trajectory to achieve net zero by 2050, or Jet Zero as we refer to it.
With a path that should prevent emissions from ever again reaching the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, its implementation will see UK aviation emissions fall even further than the levels recommended by our climate consultants.
In order to achieve this goal, we also want domestic aviation and airports to be net zero and zero-emission, respectively, by 2040, in addition to our Jet Zero target.
It is a tactic that will enable people to keep flying while also decarbonizing the industry. Prior to the pandemic, aviation supported 230,000 direct jobs nationwide and at least £22 billion of our economy.
Supporting the quick development of technology that preserves the advantages of air travel while maximising the opportunity that decarbonization presents for the UK is vital.
One of those opportunities is the domestic production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which has the potential to create up to 5,200 jobs by 2035 and revitalise industrial sites all over the nation, particularly in regions outside of London like the north-east.
This will help level the UK and increase our fuel security.
Having at least five commercial SAF plants under construction by 2025 is a new pledge we’ve made, and we’ve also confirmed that the government will need at least 10% SAF to be mixed into conventional aviation fuels by the end of the decade, one of the most ambitious goals in the world.
Supporting that effort requires funding innovative initiatives.
To encourage the start-up of commercial SAF production facilities in the UK, we are also launching the Advanced Fuels Fund today with a £165 million competition, expanding on prior financing including the £15 million Green Fuels, Green Skies initiative.
In addition, we’ve revealed that we’ve advanced to the next round of our £1 million competition to create the first-ever net-zero transatlantic flight propelled entirely by SAF.
The target of having net zero aviation emissions by 2050 establishes a clear goal, but achieving our ambition needs us to advance the various solutions required to make it happen.
As a result, our method for carrying out this strategy is based on the following three fundamental ideas:
International leadership: Through the International Civil Aviation Organization, this policy reiterates our commitment to playing a leading role in reducing international aviation emissions (ICAO).
Delivered in partnership: Through our trailblazing Jet Zero Council and other initiatives, the government will need to work together with all partners, from the aviation sector to the general public.
Maximizing opportunities: The transition to Jet Zero offers exceptional chances to establish new businesses, sectors, and technology throughout the UK economy, decarbonize air travel, and raise living standards.
These principles will drive our activities to ensure that we choose the best options to pursue as well as our progress on the six distinct policy measures introduced in the strategy today.
We want to make our current aviation system—which includes aeroplanes, airports, and airspace—more effective.
For instance, we’ll increase fuel economy by 2% year while giving airports an additional £3.7 million in 2022–2023 to help them modernise their airspace.
As a result of a UK SAF requirement that calls for at least 10% of jet fuel to be produced using sustainable sources by 2030, there will be more support for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
Through the implementation of this policy, we hope to hasten the creation of zero-emission aircraft and, by 2030, establish zero-emission routes throughout the United Kingdom.
In order to accelerate decarbonization, offset any remaining emissions, and improve the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, we will invest in technology that removes greenhouse gases (UK ETS).
Finally, we will deepen our understanding of aviation’s non-CO2 impacts, the impact of which is still unknown.
We will allow ourselves the breathing room to develop as we behave in each of these areas.
The government has promised to examine the strategy every five years and, if required, modify it in light of the advancements we make.
The UK is leading the way in terms of the ambition required to combat climate change, and the announcement of today’s strategy paves the way for the development of a long-term sustainable aviation industry.
The Jet Zero approach will provide the technologies and fuels necessary to keep passengers flying in a decarbonized world while also providing the economic benefits of new green employment and industries.