The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the Aviation Net Zero CO2 Transition Pathways Comparative Review, analysing 14 leading net zero CO2 transition roadmaps for aviation.
The report, issued in collaboration with the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) and the Mission Possible Partnership (MPP), aims to provide insights for airlines, policymakers, and aviation stakeholders on achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, comparing the roadmaps in terms of their assumptions, modelled energy demand, CO2 emissions, and emissions reduction potential.
Key findings include the varying assumptions on decarbonization technologies’ roles, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as a key contributor (24%-70%) to CO2 reductions by 2050, technology and operational efficiency improvements contributing about 30% to emissions reduction, and the importance of market-based measures and carbon removals to address residual emissions.
The report emphasizes the need for a combination of levers, urgent public policy support for SAF production, and the development of carbon removal technologies to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, providing stakeholders with valuable insights into making informed policy, investment, and business decisions in the aviation sector.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist: “the Aviation Net Zero CO2 Transition Pathways Comparative Review demonstrates that there are multiple levers that can be used in different combinations to achieve the objective of decarbonizing aviation by 2050. All these levers will be needed in aviation’s transition. While the impact of each varies across the roadmaps, all roadmaps expect the greatest decarbonization in 2050 to stem from SAF. This report provides airlines, policymakers and all stakeholders with a useful tool to analyse and improve their policy, investment, and business choices. It is particularly important for SAF where strong and urgent public policy support is needed to increase production. Without that, no version of the roadmaps will get us to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
