BTA urges braver sustainable aviation fuel targets

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ByTravelling For Business

November 10, 2022
The Business Travel Association (BTA) has released its second report in its Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) transparency series focusing on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and the jet zero pathway.The Business Travel Association (BTA) has released its second report in its Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) transparency series focusing on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and the jet zero pathway.

The Business Travel Association (BTA) has released its second report in its Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) transparency series focusing on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and the jet zero pathway.

The report, titled Sustainable Aviation Fuel: A Journey Towards Innovation calls for government and industry-wide collaboration to accelerate SAF developments and ensure the worldwide delivery of green aviation.

The research finds that the industry is reliant on SAF as a key facilitator of decarbonisation, but notes that all players in the supply chain must do more to innovate and deliver SAF at scale to reach net zero by 2050.

The BTA calls on the UK Government, the aviation sector and the wider travel industry to collaborate and subsidise the cost of SAF, with informative sustainable booking platforms and SAF credits available at the point of sale to educate travellers.

Clive Wratten, CEO of the BTA, says: “Our research is clear: SAFs are available now and possess the potential to significantly decarbonise the travel industry. Therefore, it is our responsibility to implement government-mandated booking platforms that educate travellers on their sustainable activity at the point of sale.

“Words are no longer good enough, we need to work together to form a clear pathway to net zero. Providers, airports, TMCs and government bodies must collaborate to deliver sustainable aviation fuels and ensure the decarbonisation of aviation.”

The report features insight from airlines, SAF suppliers and travel management companies to present a holistic view of the aviation industry, the challenges it faces, and the opportunities presented by sustainable alternatives.

The guide is designed to brief those without in-depth knowledge of SAF and provide an understanding of other sustainable initiatives. As well as detailing the benefits and drawbacks of sustainable aviation fuels, the report explores other options including hydrogen and electric propulsion.

Following the BTA’s original ESG benchmarking study released in March this year, the report also aligns SAF with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal framework to demonstrate how it can impact the environment, as well as local communities and economies.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel: A Journey Towards Innovation is released as world leaders gather in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt for the 27th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference.