Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 143
Establish a 2040 target for zero-emission aircraft on essential UK connectivity routes.
Recommendation
While zero-emission flight technologies offer a route to significant reductions in aviation’s CO2 emissions, their deployment is realistically likely to be limited to short-haul flights for the foreseeable future. ZEF can play a significant role in Net zero and the UK aviation sector 53 promoting aviation as a means of connecting the UK, particularly on public service obligation routes between the UK mainland and island communities. We recommend that the Government establish a target under the Jet Zero Strategy for the full roll-out of zero-emission aircraft on a minimum number of routes essential to UK connectivity by 2040, with a view to encouraging the greater takeup of ZEF aircraft on commercially-operated short haul routes within the UK.
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, having an aspiration for zero-emission routes by 2030 and a target for UK domestic aviation to reach net zero by 2040, but not a specific target for the full roll-out of zero-emission aircraft on a minimum number of essential routes by 2040. It also funds ZEF technology development.
Paragraph Reference:
143
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government partially agrees with this recommendation. In the Jet Zero Strategy Government committed to ensuring the UK is at the forefront of deploying zero emission aircraft, with an aspiration to have zero emission routes connecting different parts of the United Kingdom by 2030. Zero emission aircraft are emerging with a range of hydrogen aircraft development and test programmes underway globally. In addition, certified all-electric pilot training aircraft are already in use. We are keen to accelerate the development of these aircraft and welcome industry ambition to scale up the technology to larger commercial passenger usage. The Government have also set an earlier target for UK domestic aviation to reach net zero by 2040. Whilst we recognise that domestic aviation accounts for only a small proportion of our overall emissions from aviation, this target is an important stepping-stone on our way to achieving Jet Zero. Technologies needed to decarbonise international flights may be available earlier for shorter, domestic routes, and we see this target as acting to incentivise the adoption of low, and zero emission fuels and technology in the UK. A Government funded research project on the 2040 target was completed in 2023, will be published in due course, and we will be using this as the basis for a forthcoming call for evidence. The Government is supporting the development of new low and zero-carbon emission aircraft technology through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme. The Programme will receive £685m of government funding between 2022 and 2025, and a further £975m between 2025 and 2030.