Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted
Paragraph: 144
Include funding for research into non-CO2 atmospheric effects of zero-emission flight technologies.
Recommendation
Zero-emission flight is sometimes described as providing ‘guilt-free’ flying. While it is the case that ZEF technologies remove the CO2 emissions from conventional aircraft movements which are aviation’s most damaging effect on the environment, the potential effects on the atmosphere from both hydrogen and battery-electric flight are not fully known. We recommend that the Government, when promoting research into the non-CO2 effects of aviation, include in its strategy the funding of research into the effects on the atmosphere and climate of aircraft using zero-emission flight technologies.
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, confirming it launched a multi-year, multi-million aviation non-CO2 research programme in October 2023, with further calls planned, and specifically focusing on hydrogen-powered aircraft impacts.
Paragraph Reference:
144
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
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.