Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Conclusion 31
Third Report - Net zero and the UK aviation sector
Published 21 Dec 2023
Paragraph 197
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)
While we note the ambition shown by the Government and by the aviation industry in proposing technological methods to reduce aviation emissions, we recognise the very significant challenges for the industry in delivering the required reductions, and note that any additional costs associated with carbon reduction, such as carbon pricing through ETS and Corsia schemes, unless fully absorbed by the sector, could reflected in ticket prices and may have further impacts on overall demand. Further such costs on the sector which limit demand may run the risk of stifling the innovation that the Government and industry strategies rely on, and may skew the international aviation market in favour of more polluting airlines in a way that the multilateral ETS and Corsia schemes are designed to avoid.
From: Environmental Audit Committee, Third Report - Net zero and the UK aviation sector (HC 404), paragraph 197, 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.