Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) noted the government was “not considering active demand management to have any role in reducing aviation emissions” as part of its Jet Zero Strategy, which aims for the industry to be net zero by 2050.
It added: “The committee calls on the government to review progress against its Jet Zero Strategy by the end of 2025, and if current policies are not cutting emissions swiftly enough, that ministers reconsider the role of demand management.”
The committee said it was “concerned” Jet Zero did not go far enough to stem rising emissions from the aviation sector. It said aviation would be the UK’s largest CO2 emitter by 2050 unless it is included in carbon budgets - the limit on the amount of greenhouse gases the UK can emit over a five-year period.
It said: “Despite their enormous impact on UK emissions, the government is yet to include aviation emissions within carbon budgets, despite ministers’ assurance two and a half years ago to do so.”
The committee called for new laws “without further delay”.
It added more research into aviation’s effect on global warming was also needed: “While there have been significant efforts to decarbonise the sector by attempting to remove carbon dioxide from aviation activity, additional environmental impacts are currently being ignored.
“For example, uncertainty remains over the impact of soot emissions and aviation sulphur compound emissions. Active research is needed on all environmental effects of aviation.”
The committee also called for a global standard for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) because of variations in emissions by different types.
“A globally recognised definition is needed, and the government must work with UK industry to ensure strong safeguards are in place to ensure SAFs developed in the UK are truly sustainable,” it said.
The EAC also called for government support for the introduction of zero emission aircraft on “a number” of domestic routes by 2040, “with a view to full roll out for all UK flights if successful”.
EAC member Jerome Mayhew, a Conservative MP, said: “Aviation’s path to decarbonisation is substantially slower than that of many other sectors of the economy, and will require a number of different initiatives to make a tangible impact.
“First, the correct legislation needs to be in place. Despite promises over the years, the government is yet to include aviation emissions in its carbon budgets which monitor progress in the UK’s emissions reduction policies.”
“Second, we must support industry in developing new technologies and fuels and provide the right certainty and definitions for what can be coined a ‘sustainable aviation fuel’.
“And finally, we must champion the UK innovation on zero carbon aircraft here at home for UK flights.”
