Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Deferred
Paragraph: 79
Intensify DfT and CAA work on airspace modernisation, prioritising environmental sustainability.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority intensify their work on airspace modernisation, bearing in mind the overarching principle of environmental sustainability.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees but deflects the specific focus on airspace modernisation. Instead, it details the launch of a multi-year, multi-million aviation non-CO2 research programme to improve understanding and mitigation of non-CO2 climate impacts, with initial calls for academic projects launched in October 2023.
Paragraph Reference:
79
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Government agrees with this recommendation. Through the Jet Zero Strategy, we confirmed our intention to accelerate our work to address aviation’s non-CO impacts by better developing our understanding of their impact and potential mitigations. Last year we launched a multi-year, multi-million aviation non-CO research programme to support this objective, with the first calls for academic-led projects opened in October 2023 delivered through the Natural Environment Research Council. Further calls are expected in 2024 and 2025, including a second competition line to allow for applied research and industry-led R&D proposals. The programme improves our understanding of how non-CO emissions interact with climate over time, and consider how to mitigate their impacts. This will subsequently inform industry funding and government policy and investment decisions. This may include the use of alternative fuels and other approaches to mitigating aviation’s non-CO impacts, including but not limited to, contrail prediction and avoidance technology. Understanding and mitigating for the climate impacts of hydrogen-powered aircraft is a key focus of this research programme. It was also a dedicated thematic strand under the first call for academic-led proposals. In addition, the Government coordinates with and seeks to learn from international projects looking into aviation’s non-CO climate impact. This includes work through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and projects in Europe and North America.