ICAO summit in Dubai sets 5% emissions reduction target for aviation by 2030

ICAO’s emissions reductions strategy sees a large role for SAF + LCAF: TheInternational Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO)Third Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) concluded in Dubai on Friday with members agreeing to reduce CO2 emissions from aviation by 5 percent by 2030, according to a joint statement (pdf). Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and low carbon aviation fuels (LCAF) are expected to be the largest contributors towards achieving the goal, the statement said. An earlier draft statement had tabled a more ambitious 5-8% emissions reduction target, Reuters reported.

SOUND SMART-Aviation accounts for around 2-3% of global carbon emissions. While SAF is key to reducing aviation-related emissions, it remains costly and production is limited.

Not everyone was happy with ICAO’s statement: Oil-producers Saudi Arabia and Iraq were among several countries objecting to the framework’s timeframe and emissions reduction target. China and Russia also expressed reservations on ICAO’s new framework, citing a negative impact on their economies, Reuters wrote, while environmentalists were critical of the lack of tools to enforce ICAO’s mandate, the newswire explained.

Is the target feasible? SAF is currently three times more expensive than traditional fuels, but airlines will not use 100% SAF all at once, meaning that costs will be manageable, Director of the Air Transport Bureau at International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Mohamed Rahma told Wam at the conference. Manufacturers have begun unveiling engines adapted to using 100% SAF, which is an encouraging sign, the ICAO official also said.

It will require heavy investments in alternative fuels: ICAO will work to “globally scale-up the development and deployment for SAF, LCAF,” the statement said. “Now it is up to the finance community and energy sector to support the necessary infrastructure and start delivering SAF in ever increasing quantities,” Haldane Dodd, executive director of the Air Transport Action Group, a coalition of the world’s top airframe and aircraft engine producers, told Reuters. Capital investments of between USD 1.45 tn and 3.2 tn are required to produce the SAF volumes necessary to achieve net zero emissions in aviation, the newswire wrote, citing aviation industry estimates.

Rahma expects SAFs to be more accessible and affordable by 2040, citing what he says is a visible commitment from airlines to use alternative fuels and “encouraging” levels of investment into SAF development.

SPEAKING OF COMMITMENT-Emirates operates world’s first 100% SAF-powered A380 flight: UAE national air carrier Emirates has completed the world’s first sustainable aviation fuel-powered demonstration flight for the Airbus A380 wide-body aircraft, according to a statement released last week. One of the plane’s four engines was entirely fuelled by the alternative fuel, the statement notes.

More details: Emirates collaborated with Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) — which plans to supply SAF to Dubai Airports starting 2024 and is currently exploring SAF production both domestically and abroad — and Airbus, Engine Alliance, Pratt & Whitney, Neste, on the testing, technical assessments and data analysis for the demonstration flight, according to the statement. Enoc and Neste — which recently signed a supply agreement with Emirates for the supply of 3 mn tons of SAFs — provided the airline with the green fuels powering the flight.