Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Conclusion 13
Third Report - Net zero and the UK aviation sector
Published 21 Dec 2023
Paragraph 109
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)
Sustainable aviation fuels may offer a means of reducing the carbon emissions attributable to the lifecycle of aviation kerosene from its production to its combustion, and the Government envisions a substantial role for SAFs. There is nevertheless potential for wide variability in lifecycle emissions across the general class of fuels which the industry currently terms ‘sustainable aviation fuels’. We note that the Climate Change Committee warned in its 2023 Progress Report to Parliament that the Jet Zero Strategy approach is “high risk due to its reliance on nascent technology”, such as the rapid uptake of these fuels.
From: Environmental Audit Committee, Third Report - Net zero and the UK aviation sector (HC 404), paragraph 109, 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.