EASA: SAF production must increase dramatically to meet climate goals

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By BRYAN CORLISS

Oct. 3, 2022, © Leeham News: Aviation is “a key vulnerable economic sector that is only in the early stage of adaptation to climate change,” according to a new report from EASA, the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency.

To meet the industry’s environmental challenges – and there are several -- more must be done to identify the hazards and risks that extreme weather events caused by climate change can bring to the industry, the report says.

The report also recommends that more needs to be done to plan for the impact of extreme weather on aircraft and airline infrastructure. The industry and regulators also need to “identify and apply ‘win-win’ solutions” to reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions from airliners, and to accelerate the deployment of aircraft and air traffic control technology to improve the efficiency of Europe’s airline fleet.

The good news in the report is that researchers believe aviation could cut emissions by 69% by 2050 by adopting a suite of changes, including increased use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), improved aircraft technology, better operational practices and by using hydrogen or electric motors to power aircraft where feasible.

Summary
  • Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel must increase dramatically.
  • Airline emissions are going up as a percentage of contribution to climate impact.
  • In another blow to Boom’s claim its SST will be environmentally friendly, EASA takes a different view about SSTs.

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