Any airline legitimately using sustainable aviation fuel in ongoing operations is not green washing. It would be green washing if an airline signs up for very severe, 20 50, net zero targets and then doesn't pursue solutions that are available to them. And the benefit of firm policy is that there will always be airlines that are leading by example and blending sustainable aviation fuel. But i think we need to get to a place where aviation fuel is obligated to be less environmentally destructive than it is now.
For those of us who love to travel, climate guilt weighs heavily. Civil aviation accounts for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and that number is going up. But while electrifying cars and trucks is already well underway, flying planes on anything other than liquid fuels remains devilishly difficult. Despite that difficulty, there are options. Sustainable aviation fuels, or SAFs, hold the most promise, as they can theoretically drop right into existing engines and infrastructure. Beyond that, a number of startups are tinkering with electric battery-powered aircraft, as well as hydrogen-powered electric planes. But how sustainable are these options, and are they really ready for prime time?
Guests:
Fred Ghatala, Director of Carbon & Sustainability, Advanced Biofuels Canada
Stephanie Searle, Fuels Program Director, ICCT
Scott Cary, Project Manager, NREL
Christina Beckman, Co-creator, Tomorrow’s Air; Vice President, Adventure Travel Trade Association
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