Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Conclusion 1
Third Report - Net zero and the UK aviation sector
Published 21 Dec 2023
Paragraph 30
Environmental Audit Committee Net zero aviation and shipping All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The impact of conventional aviation activity on climate is still not fully quantifiable. While the contribution of aviation to levels of atmospheric CO and other greenhouse 2 gases is quantifiable and substantial, the climate impact of other emissions from aviation is currently not well understood and difficult to quantify. Measures to decarbonise the sector are vital: but removing carbon dioxide from aviation activity is unlikely to eliminate its overall impact on the environment. The Government has acknowledged the contribution of non-CO2 effects from aviation in the development of its strategy for decarbonising aviation, and is examining methods of mitigating non-CO2 effects from aviation which uses fuels which have a reduced carbon footprint.
From: Environmental Audit Committee, Third Report - Net zero and the UK aviation sector (HC 404), paragraph 30, 21 December 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 3 April 2024 (deadline 21 February 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government says it agrees with some recommendations, partially agrees with two and notes others, and sets out its approach through the Jet Zero Strategy, with a first major review in 2027.
- On the review of the Jet Zero Strategy, the government "notes" the recommendation for an initial review by the end of 2025; it will monitor progress annually from 2025, with "the first major review" in 2027.
- On sustainable aviation fuel, it agrees with the recommendations on safeguards and on international standards, and states that the UK "will introduce a SAF mandate from 2025", requiring at least 10% of UK aviation fuel to be SAF by 2030.
- It "notes" the recommendation on a SAF price support mechanism, stating that a revenue certainty mechanism could be delivered "by the end of 2026", with options to be carefully considered in a consultation.
- It "partially agrees" with the recommendations on land criteria for SAF feedstocks and on a zero-emission routes target, and "notes" the recommendation on demand management, citing DfT analysis that net zero targets can be met by focusing on new fuels and technology rather than capping demand.