Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation 33

Third Report - Net zero and the UK aviation sector Published 21 Dec 2023 Paragraph 199
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The Climate Change Committee has argued that demand-side measures have an important role to play in ensuring that the aviation sector delivers the necessary emissions reductions and that risks in the current approach are mitigated. That Committee has therefore urged the Government to “develop a suite of policy and technology options” to address aviation demand.

From: Environmental Audit Committee, Third Report - Net zero and the UK aviation sector (HC 404), paragraph 199, 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.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error