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Today we’re covering the latest on emissions in the aviation industry, the regulator has spoken: they gotta get green fast.

Sustaining flight

The aviation industry is responsible for around 2.5% of all global CO2 emissions. That might sound like a small amount, but for a frequent flier, air travel dominates their individual contribution to climate change.

Compared to other industries, aviation emissions are also one of the fastest growing segments. In fact, if things don’t change, the European Comission predicts that by the middle of the 21st Century, demand for flying could increase emission 6-fold from 2005 levels. It’s like a driver who’s just received a ticket for speeding going 200 on 50. They just don’t seem to get it!

The EU’s had enough. In a first of it’s kind regulation, airlines operating in the EU are being required to start using green fuels from 2025. All aircraft fuel will need to have some component of sustainable fuels with increasing requirements til 2050. Estimates suggest that these efforts could cut aviation emissions by two thirds by 2050.

A greener refuel

The new rules, outline the permissible fuels ranging from biofuels to recycled carbon fuels and e-kerosene. A number of new, exciting, and effective technologies will need to be integrated in to the fuel supplies of large airlines.

If you’re anything like the Strawman, we thought this was already well underway - after all, the airline industry did pledge to hit Net Zero by 2050. Well today, these fuels only make up 0.1% of all jet fuel. It’s like they took a leaf out of our favourite politicians’ books, they seem to be saying one thing and doing another.

Climate activists welcome the new regulation, while alternative fuel upstarts see new tailwinds (pun intended!) for their products. The small amount of renewable aviation fuel in today’s industry reflects a harsh reality for many of these ambitious projects: While their science might be sound, the commercial opportunity is yet to take off.

‘til next time,

The Strawman