UK sets out strategy to reach net zero aviation

26 July 2022: The UK has set out its strategy to reach net zero aviation. The Jet Zero strategy sets a timeline for reaching net zero aviation: UK domestic aviation is to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.

The new Jet Zero Strategy sets ambitious green targets to ensure passengers will be able to fly guilt-free in the future. 

The six priority areas set out in the strategy are:

1. Improving the efficiency of our existing aviation system, from aircraft to airports and airspace. For example, we will improve fuel efficiency by 2 per cent every year and are providing a further £3.7m in 2022/23 to support airports to modernise their airspace. 
2. Increasing support for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), by creating secure and growing UK SAF demand through a SAF mandate that will require at least 10 per cent of jet fuel to be made from sustainable sources by 2030 and kick starting a domestic SAF industry, supported by the new £165m Advanced Fuels Fund.
3. Supporting the development of zero-emission aircraft, with the aspiration of having zero-emission routes connecting places across the UK by 2030. 
4. Developing carbon markets and greenhouse gas removal technologies to drive decarbonisation and offset any residual emissions, including by enhancing the UK Emission Trade Scheme (UK ETS). 
5. Providing consumers with better information so they can make sustainable aviation choices. We will publish a Call for Evidence on our proposal to provide consumers with environmental information at the time of booking air travel in Autumn 2022.
6. Increasing our understanding of the non-CO2 impacts of aviation, such as contrails and nitrogen oxides. The effects of these remain uncertain so we will work closely with academia and industry to monitor global developments in this area, increase our understanding, potential mitigations, and explore a means of tracking these emissions.

The Jet Zero Strategy builds on the Prime Minister’s Net Zero Strategy, the UK’s economy-wide plan for achieving net zero emissions by 2050, as well as the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which outlines the commitments and actions needed to decarbonise the entire transport system. 

You can find more information here.