Climate change is an existential challenge to our planet and every nation and global economic sector must do their part to limit the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the climate. A key objective of iPADIS is therefore the promotion of sustainable development of aviation and advocacy for environmental sustainability and reduction of the negative impact of the growth of aviation on climate change.

As the aviation industry recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the contribution of air transport to global carbon emissions and its negative impact on climate change is again expected to grow. iPADIS therefore strongly supports the international aviation sector global of improving fuel efficiency by 2 per cent per annum, the collective medium-term global aspirational goal of keeping the global net carbon emissions from international aviation from 2020 at the same level as well as the collective long-term aspirational goal (LTAG) of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Under ICAO’s leadership States and the aviation industry stakeholders continue to work towards these goals in all aspects of the basket of measures to address climate change including aircraft technology CO2 emissions standards; operational improvements; sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

The success of ICAO’s efforts on environmental protection ultimately depends on global cooperation where no country is left behind in having equitable access to participate in air transport and to develop its civil aviation sector, and where every ICAO member State is encouraged and supported to contribute its part to the attainment of global environmental objectives.

iPADIS applauds ongoing research and the development of zero emission propulsion systems using innovative sources of energy in air transport such as hydrogen and renewable electricity. iPADIS also welcomes current emphasis on the promotion of lower carbon aviation fuel (LCAF) technologies. However, iPADIS believes that SAF offers best potential of meeting LTAG in the immediate future.

Firstly, the safety of flights using SAF is proven. Secondly as an emerging sector, SAF offers broader attainable opportunities for new entrants. SAF is an encouraging avenue for States especially developing countries to diversify their economy, broaden their technical knowledge and expertise and advance their technological development while effectively contributing to reduction of aviation emissions and attainment of the LTAG. If LCAF is a low hanging fruit for developing and emerging economies with robust oil and gas industries, SAFs should be of interest especially to the non-oil producing countries.

Concerns are often expressed regarding the impact of SAFs on food security arising from the use of arable land to grow some crop-based feedstocks as well as protection of biodiversity. However, there are now many proven fuel conversion pathways based on a wide variety of other feedstocks including non-food crops, agricultural residues and biomass, residue lipids, municipal and industrial wastes. Many feedstocks are best grown on fallow, arid lands that otherwise are not good for crops production.

Several feasibility studies have demonstrated that most States can participate in and benefit from development and deployment of SAFs in a socially responsible and ecologically friendly manner including in the production of feedstocks and the refining, storage, and distribution of SAFs. What is required from any government to benefit from the SAF emerging sector is political will as well as enabling policies and economic incentives.

iPADIS therefore encourages governments, the aviation industry and civil society stakeholders to accord greater priority to SAF development and deployment and promote the development of harmonised global, regional and national policies on SAF and sensitise their societies on the benefits of SAF.

Also, as air transport is an end user of SAF, effective collaboration with other relevant sectors pertinent to production and global distribution of SAFs is of critical importance. There should be collaboration among States, financial institutions and development partners to facilitate capacity building, access to financing and technology transfer for developing States. These States should avail themselves of the many available green funding sources, public and private partnerships and joint ventures to develop their SAF industry.