Flying towards a net-zero future

Decarbonising aviation is a monumental challenge, but it's also an opportunity of a lifetime to reimagine how we travel. The journey to net zero will see aircraft powered by new propulsion systems, more electric designs and sustainable aviation fuel, SAF. Haldane Dodd, Executive Director, Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) calls for continued collective action to scale SAF production, accelerate deployment of fuel-efficient aircraft and invest in next-generation technologies - ensuring aviation continues to drive global connectivity while helping safeguard the planet for future generations.

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Climate change is the defining issue of our time. It affects the environment in many different ways, from sea level rise and permafrost impacts, high temperatures to flooding caused by stronger storms and coastal erosion. Every industry is rethinking its own operations and is forced to innovate and act decisively. For aviation, a sector that not only connects more than 4 billion people every year and accounts for almost 4% of global economic activity, but also contributes roughly 2% of global carbon emissions, the need to decarbonise is even more urgent.

This is why the global air transport sector is working towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Yes, decarbonising a sector so heavily reliant on fossil fuels is a monumental challenge, but it also poses an opportunity as it allows us to reimagine the way we travel in the not-so-distant future: aircraft will be powered by new propulsion systems which reduce fuel use or rely on more electric architectures, while sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, will need to fuel the majority of flights taking off around the world.

At the same time, smarter and more efficient airspace management and airport infrastructure and operations will transform air travel. The challenge of our lifetime to reach net zero carbon emissions, is the opportunity of our lifetime to create the next generation of air transport!

Turning opportunity into reality

This is not just an ambition. Aviation's net zero transformation is already underway - governments under the umbrella of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), support the sector's 2050 goal. Airlines, airports, manufacturers, air navigation providers and the entire air transport value chain are taking action to lower carbon emissions.

But the way to get there is difficult, requiring enormous efforts by all stakeholders. There is no silver bullet to get to net zero and different stakeholders and regions in the world will contribute in different ways. Some will lead through large-scale deployment of sustainable aviation fuel, while others will pioneer hydrogen, hybrid and electric propulsion systems. Together, these efforts are converging into one shared journey: transforming the vision of tomorrow's flight into today's reality.

At the heart of this transformation lies the shift from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources. Sustainable aviation fuel, which can be produced from feedstocks such as waste oils, agricultural residues, algae or even captured carbon, can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80%. But the challenge is to scale it: this fuel currently represents less than 1% of global jet fuel use. To meet 2050 targets, production must increase exponentially, requiring the creation of an entirely new energy ecosystem. That means new refineries and supply chains as well as harmonised regulations around the globe and investment and financial frameworks.

Building the ecosystem for transformation

Air Transport Action Group(ATAG) is supporting the industry in reaching its net zero goals. Our member organisations share a vision of ensuring air transport can continue to connect the world and support economic and social development in the decades to come, while respecting the commitment to climate action. The case studies highlighted in this newsletter by organisations such as the Airports Council International and sustainable aviation fuel producers LanzaJet and World Energy demonstrate how the aviation industry is collaborating across the aisle, working with sustainable aviation fuel producers to move us closer to our target.

It shows that our common effort is by no means only limited to the aviation industry. We cannot decarbonise in a vacuum but need to work with the business community outside the aviation sector to create opportunities for climate impact. Apart from financial and energy industries this also includes businesses in the technology and construction industries, as well startups and research partners to innovate and help us scale new solutions.

The next five years will define the future of flight

One thing is clear: we have the opportunity to create a net zero future for air transport, but time is short. The next five years will be decisive, and each year of delay makes net zero harder and more costly to achieve. Now is the time to collectively take on this opportunity and scale the production of sustainable aviation fuel globally, continue to implement market-based mechanisms and financing tools, deploy fuel-efficient aircraft faster into the fleet and continue research and development for new propulsion technologies.

We must continue to modernise air traffic management systems and accelerate the development and scaling of carbon removals. Doing so is essential not only for the planet, but also for protecting aviation's role as a driver of global connectivity, trade, tourism and economic opportunity for communities around the world.

The decarbonisation of aviation can be a symbol of what multi-stakeholder cooperation and innovation can accomplish when the world works together towards a common goal. This is not just a challenge. It truly is the opportunity of a lifetime, to redefine how air transport connects the world and help safeguard the planet for generations to come.

2025 is a critical year for the Paris Agreement. Ten years on, we need to rethink how we frame the challenge. And seeing challenges differently is what business and we are all about.

ICC is committed to securing what businesses need at the upcoming climate negotiations, COP30, in Belém, Brazil. Learn more about our Opportunity of a Lifetime climate campaign and how to get involved.

*Disclaimer: The content of this article may not reflect the official views of the International Chamber of Commerce. The opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and other contributors.