RSB publishes report on the future of alternative aviation fuels

October 28, 2018 |

In Switzerland, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials published “Alternative Aviation Fuels: A Sustainable Future is Taking Off,” which sums up the aviation industry’s commitment to major action in the global fight against climate change, including carbon neutral growth from 2020 and a 50% reduction in emissions by 2050 compared to 2005 levels. The report said that the main way to achieve this is through fuel, which is the main source of the 815 million tons of CO2 emissions the sector was responsible for in 2016.

“The drive to commercialization of alternative aviation fuels has seen over 1.5 billion gallons of offtakes by the beginning of 2018. This year has also seen high profile commitments to alternative fuels from airlines like United, Virgin Atlantic and Qantas, as well as significant resource and capacity investments from airports, feedstock producers, processors and traders worldwide.”

However, the report said that “without proper sustainability certification, such fuels can actually risk having negative social and environmental impacts such as negligible greenhouse gas emissions reductions (or even increased emissions), reduced food security through the conversion of food-producing land to feedstock production, environmental degradation from deforestation, and unsustainable soil and water usage – among others. In order to overcome these challenges and support the development of sustainable supply chains, responsible sourcing and risk mitigation and ensure consumer and NGO support, industry leaders around the world are working with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials.”

Category: Fuels

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