The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced a comprehensive set of strategic roadmaps, recognising the urgent need to address environmental concerns and reduce the aviation industry’s carbon footprint. IATA’s strategic roadmaps outline key measures and milestones for the sector to attain net-zero emissions within the next three decades. These roadmaps address vital actions required in key areas, including finance, operations, energy infrastructure, aircraft technology, and policy considerations, all of which are critical to achieving the decarbonisation target.
The aviation industry and the participating governments reached a consensus during ICAO’s 41st Assembly by adopting a Long Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG). This goal has united them in their commitment to work together towards the common aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. These roadmaps offer a clear, actionable plan for airlines, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to work collectively in reducing the industry’s impact on the environment. They lay the foundation upon which necessary innovations and actions will be built.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General stated, “The roadmaps are the first detailed assessment of the key steps necessary to accelerate the transition to net zero by 2050. Together, they show a clear direction and will evolve as we dig deeper to set interim milestones on the way to net zero. I must emphasise that roadmaps are not just for airlines. Governments, suppliers, and financiers cannot be spectators in aviation’s decarbonisation journey. They have skin in the game. The roadmaps are a call to action for all aviation’s stakeholders to deliver the tools needed to make this fundamental transformation of aviation a success with policies and products fit for a net-zero world.”
According to the report, this milestone initiative is a significant step forward in the aviation sector’s commitment to sustainability and aligns with global efforts to combat climate change. It underscores the significance of developing more efficient aircraft and engines. The endeavour particularly highlights the significance of advancing aircraft technology critical to enable flights powered by batteries, hydrogen, or 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Within the Energy and New Fuels Infrastructure roadmaps, the spotlight is on infrastructure upstream from airports. This infrastructure plays a critical role in facilitating the utilisation of aircraft run on hydrogen or SAF. Renewable energy is highlighted as an essential component in fulfilling the aviation sector’s energy demands, with the roadmaps delineating key milestones for vital infrastructure development.
Secondly, augmenting flight operations to reduce both fuel consumption and emissions has been marked as another core objective in the IATA’s roadmaps. It encompasses optimising flight routes, improving air traffic management, and implementing sustainable ground operations practices. A global policy framework that incentivises and supports the aviation industry’s sustainability efforts is also underlined. Finally, the roadmaps address the substantial financial investments. Totaling $5 trillion, these will be required to fund advancements in technology, infrastructure, and operations to reach the net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
The challenges in scaling up SAF production illustrate the significance of these roadmaps. Successfully implementing this fuel depends on finance, policy, policy, aircraft technology, operations, and energy infrastructure.
That said, SAF can significantly reduce the aviation industry’s carbon footprint, providing it with solid footing for decoupling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from flights. According to the report, as a drop-in solution, SAF is claimed to contribute roughly 62% of the decarbonisation needed to hit net-zero targets by 2050. However, with increasing bio-content exacerbating microbial contamination, ensuring periodic testing of SAF with high-end immunoassay kits such as FUELSTAT® has become critical.
The challenges in scaling up SAF production demonstrate the significance of these roadmaps.
“Without the right policy incentives and bold investments, many of the technologies and innovations simply won’t happen at scale. Everything is related, and that is why we have the five roadmaps to tie all the parallel elements together and give our stakeholders, including governments, a complete understanding of everything that needs to happen,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, SVP Sustainability and Chief Economist at IATA.
“Time is of the essence, as highlighted by these roadmaps. Immediate action is required to commercialise scalable zero-carbon energy storage solutions along with the required infrastructure, and to build a business case for their rapid delivery at Gigawatt scale,” said Prof. Andreas Schafer, Director of UCL’s Air Transport Systems Laboratory.
Sohela is an electrical engineer and a self-professed writer with a keen interest in all things tech. When she’s not writing killer content pieces, you’ll find her enjoying tempting foods in her favourite restaurants.
