Reducing emissions in aviation by 5% by 2030 may not be achievable on global basis: lata

The goal of reducing carbon emissions in international aviation by 5 per cent by 2030 may not be achievable on a global basis, due in part to the uneven production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the International Air Transport Association (lata) said at its annual meeting in Dubai.

- Grace Leong

Speaking to the media in a closing briefing on June 4, lata director general Willie Walsh said: "I believe the 5 per cent (SAF) production goal by 2030 is extremely ambitious.

"When we look at the SAF that is in production and the SAF that can potentially be delivered between now and 2030, we have concerns that the 5 per cent target cannot be achieved on a global basis.

"We know that there's no SAF production in Latin America. We see SAF production in certain parts of the world, and investments in SAF production in parts of the world, but not in Latin America."

Mr Walsh added: "That's where we need to be honest. If we have this figure of 5 per cent, and then in 2030, well... in Latin America, it is only 1 per cent... That's why we have to have this debate, and we have to be honest. We are committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions (in air transportation) by 2050. It will be difficult. We know it will be expensive, but we are determined to get there."

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is aiming for net-zero emissions for aviation by 2050, and to reduce carbon emissions by 5 per cent by 2030 using cleaner sources of energy.