Lord Deben’s letter on behalf of The Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) to the UK Transport Secretary, Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, on ‘Net-zero and the approach to international aviation and shipping emissions’ (https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/letter-international-aviation-and-shipping/), recommendations that IAS are included in the UK’s net-zero emissions target by 2050, stating that aviation is likely to be the largest emitting sector in the UK by 2050, even with strong technological progress and limiting demand. Recommendations include a move to sustainable biofuels, and by limited demand growth by 25%, more efficient engines and the development of hybrid-electric aircraft, reassessing airport capacity, efficiencies in airline and airspace operations, and by greenhouse gas removal via CORISIA or additional UK policies.
A critical recommendation here that airlines need to take note of is of limiting demand. The report states that in the “absence of a true zero-carbon plane, demand cannot continue to grow unfettered over the long-term”. The report assumes air travel growth of 25% to 2050 but the government figure is more than 49%. Measures to limit demand could include: carbon pricing, a frequent flyer levy, fiscal measures to ensure aviation is not undertaxed compared to other transport sectors (e.g. fuel duty, VAT), reforms to Air Passenger Duty, or management of airport capacity.
Responding to the letter from the Committee on Climate Change, Chairman of Sustainable Aviation, Neil Robinson, agrees that “with through an international approach, with the right Government support, and together with substantial investment from industry, net zero is within reach for UK aviation if we all play our part”. He warns though that the UK would suffer if the country’s climate ambition is not matched elsewhere.
“The global market would be distorted with carbon emissions simply exported to other countries, which would be bad for the environment and bad for British travellers. We are therefore urging Ministers to continue leading through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to agree a meaningful global emissions reduction target for aviation, consistent with the requirements of the Paris Agreement.”
A government spokesman said: “We are also committed to setting a clear ambition for the aviation sector and will carefully consider the advice of the Committee on Climate Change when we publish our position on aviation and climate change for consultation shortly.”
Grant Shapps meanwhile has called for an “electric revolution in the skies” in a speech to industry experts at Cranfield University.
He said: “We need to get to grips with commercial aviation greenhouse gas emissions for the sake of our children and our fragile environment”.
“With aviation set to grow significantly over the next three decades, largely driven by rising demand from emerging markets, particularly Asia, the Middle East and India, I want to pave the way for the transition towards commercial use of cleaner electric planes. I want to create an electric revolution in our skies”.
He added that the UK Government is committed to helping the UK aviation industry seize future growth opportunities following Brexit: “Just as the UK led the world as a pioneer of international commercial flight in the twentieth century, I want the UK to become a hotbed for the design, manufacture and use of electric planes in the twenty-first and to seize a share of a market that could be worth £4 trillion globally by 2050.”
Speaking of his ambitions as Secretary of State for Transport and his vow to battle climate change in his role, Shapps said: “The fight against climate change is the greatest and most pressing challenge facing the modern world. The world’s first ever jet airliner was built in my own constituency, now I want to see the UK lead the world with electric flight too.”
UK government advised to act on aviation emissions
