The global aviation industry is grappling with setbacks in its mission to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Willie Walsh, head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), highlighted the slow progress during an IATA media day in Geneva.
“We’re not making as much progress as we’d hoped for, and we’re certainly not making as much progress as we need,” Walsh admitted. Currently, SAF accounts for only about 0.3% of the world’s jet fuel usage. Projections suggest this will rise to just 0.7% by 2025, a pace many experts believe is insufficient for meeting environmental goals.
An IATA study presented at the event revealed that global production of green jet fuel in 2024 is expected to be only 1 metric ton, falling short of last year’s projection of 1.5 metric tons. A significant hurdle is the lack of biorefineries under construction, mainly due to the substantial capital investment required.
In response to these challenges, IATA announced plans to launch a new project next year aimed at providing greater transparency and tracking of global SAF initiatives. The goal is to accelerate progress by identifying bottlenecks and promoting collaboration across the industry.
Walsh also pointed out regional disparities, noting that Europe is lagging behind the United States in creating incentives to boost investment in SAF production facilities. The 2022 U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes significant subsidies for clean energy, representing a major step towards combating climate change.
“There’s a lot we can learn from the policies implemented in the U.S.,” Walsh stated. “Incentives are crucial for encouraging the development of sustainable fuels and achieving our emissions targets.”
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Global airlines could miss sustainable fuel targets, says IATA head
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