Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 21
Third Report - Net zero and the UK aviation sector
Published 21 Dec 2023
Paragraph 143
Environmental Audit Committee Net zero aviation and shipping All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
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.
From: Environmental Audit Committee, Third Report - Net zero and the UK aviation sector (HC 404), paragraph 143, 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.