Transport Decarbonisation Plan

Progress report two years on | June 2023

We will kick-start commercialisation of UK sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)

We are putting in place a comprehensive policy framework that could enable greater SAF uptake than is accounted for within the CCC’s Balanced Pathway if the market develops quickly.

We will invest £3 million to establish a SAF clearing house, to enable the UK to certify new fuels, driving innovation in this space.

We will consult on a UK sustainable aviation fuels mandate

In 2021 we will consult on a SAF mandate to blend greener fuels into kerosene, which will create marketled demand for these alternative fuels.

To drive decarbonisation within the UK’s aviation sector and the growth of SAF in the UK, we confirmed in July 2022 that we would introduce a SAF mandate in 2025 requiring at least 10% of jet fuel to be made from sustainable feedstocks by 2030.

The University of Sheffield has been chosen to be the home of the UK’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel Clearing House, as part of new government investment to help decarbonise transport.

Consultation outcome reached Mandating the use of sustainable aviation fuels in the UK March 2023

We will support UK airspace modernisation

We will support airspace modernisation to deliver quicker, quieter, and cleaner journeys, alongside annual carbon savings of up to 0.6 MtCO2e (based on 2019 figures), for the benefit of those who use and are affected by UK airspace.

The CAA’s updated Airspace Modernisation Strategy, due to be consulted on later in 2021, will provide further detail. Meanwhile, the government is providing up to £5.5 million funding in the years 2020/21 and 2021/22 to ensure the programme remains on track through the global pandemic.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority published its refreshed Airspace Modernisation Strategy in January 2023, setting out a vision for the future of UK airspace which will help deliver quicker, quieter and cleaner journeys, as well as create more capacity.

Airspace Modernisation – 2022 Progress

Report

Government commits funding to build back better and greener in our skies

Today’s (January 2022) £3.7 million in new funding brings the total funding to £9.2 million, after an initial round of investment in March 2021.

We will further develop the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to help accelerate aviation decarbonisation

We will look to improve the system for aviation, for example by reviewing the sector’s free allocation in line with the commitment to a net zero consistent ETS cap trajectory, exploring whether to expand the pollutants covered, and determining how the UK ETS will interact with the global offsetting scheme for aviation, CORSIA.

Consultation outcome Developing the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) Published: 25 March 2022

Last updated: 31 August 2022

We will work with industry to accelerate the adoption of innovative zero emission aircraft and aviation technology in General Aviation

We will aim to agree an ambitious long-term global emissions reduction goal in the International Civil Aviation Organization by 2022

General Aviation refers to the operation of non-scheduled commercial and leisure flights.

A long-term climate goal for international aviation through the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is consistent with the global temperature goals of the Paris Agreement, remains a top priority. We will build on the success of CORSIA to negotiate for the adoption of an ambitious goal by ICAO’s next Assembly in 2022.

GREEN – 11 out of 11 = 100%

Plans to speed up the design, manufacture, and rollout of zero emission aircraft and infrastructure at UK airports. 17 April 2023

Member States of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, adopted almost unanimously a new long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG). In international aviation, the aim is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050.