A recent study by Transport and Environment highlights that most airlines are not transitioning effectively to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This shortfall undermines global efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector. Despite SAF being a promising alternative, it currently accounts for only 1% of the global aviation fuel market, far from the levels needed to achieve meaningful environmental impact.
Airlines call for increased SAF production is critical. This fuel, derived from renewable sources like wood chips and used cooking oil, offers a cleaner-burning alternative to conventional jet fuel. However, its high cost—two to five times that of traditional jet fuel—and limited availability have hindered widespread adoption.
The study also critiques the insufficient investment from major oil companies, which possess the resources to scale up SAF production. They found that Eni, TotalEnergies, Shell, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Sinopec and Saudi Aramco could produce only around 3 Mt of SAF per year by 2030 – less than 3% of their current jet fuel output.
In its airline rankings, the group commended Air France-KLM, United Airlines, and Norwegian for taking steps toward SAF adoption, particularly its synthetic variant. However, the report revealed that 87% of airlines are failing to make substantial progress.
The study underscores the urgent need for systemic change. Airlines must increase SAF purchases, and oil producers must prioritize SAF investment to meet carbon reduction targets. With the aviation sector responsible for 2-3% of global emissions, scaling SAF usage is critical to achieving sustainable travel.
For meaningful progress, governments and industry leaders must collaborate to incentivize SAF production and adoption, ensuring both environmental and economic goals are met. Without immediate action, the sector risks falling short of its climate commitments.
Reference- Transport and Environment study, The Guardian, Reuters article