Regulator Proposes Mandate for Airlines to Show Flight Environmental Impact

July 23, 2024 TruthUSA

The Civil Aviation Authority is aiming to provide consumers with access to information through booking apps that details the amount of CO2 used per passenger journey.

The aviation regulator is planning to mandate airlines to disclose environmental information for each flight to passengers.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced on Tuesday its intention to empower consumers to make more informed decisions by understanding the net zero impact of flights originating from and within the UK.

Responsible for overseeing aviation safety, security, and consumer protection in the UK, the CAA is introducing this proposal.

In its launch statement, the CAA emphasized the need for environmental data to be reported to consumers using standard units such as kg CO2 or kg CO2e per passenger journey.

Sustainability

The regulator highlighted the importance of accurate, understandable, and accessible environmental information for consumers on booking platforms.

If approved, this policy could take effect as early as next year.

Tim Johnson, policy director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, stated:  ”Providing consumers with accessible, transparent, and accurate environmental information is crucial for making informed travel choices.

“Our new proposals aim to standardize this information across all platforms, allowing passengers to easily compare the environmental impact of their flights.

“This initiative is a significant step towards greater transparency and improved sustainability in the aviation industry.”

The CAA’s plans align with its net zero strategy, aiming to be “ambitious” in prioritizing sustainability and supporting the government’s “Jet Zero Strategy” for decarbonizing aviation within the sector.

SAFs

The UK has committed to increasing the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and achieving “net zero” domestic flying.

The Labour government announced on Monday that the UK will implement a SAF mandate starting January 1, 2025, making it one of the first countries to legislate in this manner.

The SAF mandate will commence in 2025 at 2 percent of the total UK jet fuel demand, increasing linearly to 10 percent by 2030, and then to 22 percent by 2040. From 2040 onwards, the obligation will remain at 22 percent until there is greater certainty regarding SAF supply.

A report from the Royal Society in the previous year warned that there is no single, clear alternative to jet fuel capable of sustaining current levels of aviation fuel consumption.

Researchers concluded that energy crops like rapeseed, miscanthus, and poplar wood would require over 50 percent of the UK’s available agricultural land to replace aviation fuels.

The report also noted that producing enough green hydrogen fuel would necessitate 2.4 to 3.4 times the UK’s 2020 renewable electricity generation, predominantly from wind and solar sources.

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