A new, dynamic focus group has been formed to tackle aviation emissions in the United Kingdom.
Launched by the country’s Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, the Jet Zero Taskforce is set to function as the primary driving force in transforming flights in and out of the country, aligning itself with government aims to enforce the UK as an international leader in clean energy.
Holding annual, CEO-level meetings chaired by the Transport Secretary herself; the group will build on the previous incarnation of the Jet Zero Council, with aims to support both the production and delivery of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), as well as zero-emission flights.
Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh said:Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face, and together with industry, I am determined to build an aviation sector that’s future-ready and better for the planet.
We need to make flying a cleaner, greener experience and the new and improved Jet Zero Taskforce will be the driving force behind this transition.
I look forward to working with all members to deliver meaningful changes that will boost our economy and make the UK a global leader in sustainable travel.
The group will also look to investigate how best to improve aviation systems in order to ensure consistent efficiency, explore the sector’s desire for greenhouse gas removals and investigate the non-CO2 impacts of aviation, focusing on the sector’s overall impact on the environment.
Members of the Taskforce include the Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband, a slew of UK airports, fuel producers, leading universities, trade bodies and CEOs of several major airlines.
CEO of Airlines UK, Tim Alderslade said:The UK can lead the way in net zero aviation, ensuring our world-class aviation and aerospace companies can continue to support a growing UK economy and industrial base and provide families the chance to travel long into the future.
Collaboration with government and across the whole sector and supply chain is vital to making the rapid progress we need, and we look forward to working with the new Taskforce to help usher in a new era of sustainable air travel, with all the jobs and investment that entails.
The group’s first meeting is set to take place on 04 December 2024, following on from the Department for Transport (DfT)’s recent investment of up to 450 thousand GBP to support aviation decarbonisation in other countries, as well as last week’s signing of the SAF Mandate into UK law.
The mandate, which requires an increase in the amount of SAF in overall jet fuel from 01 January 2025, is one step toward’s the government’s deadline of a minimum of 22 percent SAF throughout the country by 2040.
In addition to the group’s predominately executive level, a new, more concise group of sustainability leaders have been appointed to support the Taskforce’s main priorities, chaired by Mike Kane MP, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security, and Holly Boyd-Boland, VP of Corporate Development at Virgin Atlantic.
VP of Corporate Development at Virgin Atlantic, Holly Boyd-Boland said:As Virgin Atlantic demonstrated with Flight100 last year, decarbonising our sector requires radical collaboration – a shared goal, underpinned by a bias to action. Aviation can play a significant role in delivering the government’s missions for economic growth and clean energy.
Taking up the role of industry chair is a huge privilege and I look forward to working alongside government, with its renewed focus and leadership of the Jet Zero Taskforce. Together, we can harness the ambition across industry to achieve net zero 2050.
At COP29, held in Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 81% by 2035.
