Green flight paths: a catalyst for net-zero aviation by 2050

Energy & Environmental Science

October 2024

This paper explores how “green flight paths” (GFPs) could help accelerate the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is crucial for achieving net-zero aviation by 2050. SAF production is currently very low, but targeted international partnerships could help scale it up. Building on the Clydebank Declaration from COP26 for green shipping corridors, the development of GFPs would establish specific air routes where sustainable fuel use is financially supported. This study examines how GFPs are likely to be spearheaded by countries, such as the UK and the UAE, which are both large international aviation markets that have the political, technical and production capabilities to be world-leaders in pursuing the earlier stages of investment (which are inherently riskier) in developing SAF commercial production capacity for the decarbonisation of their aviation sectors. . The paper also highlights how from an energy justice perspective, GFPs are ideal for catalysing SAF adoption and cost reduction in a just way by ensuring that responsibility for funding and risk is shared appropriately.