The Global Business Travel Association welcomes the European Parliament’s inclusion of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)
as a priority technology in the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) during this week’s plenary session. The NZIA is a pivotal piece of legislation that will Support the deployment of manufacturing technologies necessary for decarbonisation in the EU and help achieve its ambitious 2030 and 2050 climate targets. As a major user of air transport, the business travel community is actively supporting the shift towards cleaner aviation throughout the European Union, by stimulating market demand for SAF. In a recent report released by the GBTA Foundation on Managing Emissions from Business Travel Programs, SAF is highlighted as the most immediate opportunity to decarbonise air travel by delivering a net reduction in carbon emissions compared to fossil-based jet fuel.
Scaling and deploying SAF at the speed needed to meet 2030 and 2050 climate goals must be matched with significant investments in SAF production. With yesterday’s vote, MEPs recognise the strategic value of this technology to achieve climate-neutrality while maintaining a healthy travel sector that contributes to Europe’s economic growth. Thanks to this, business travel can continue to be an enabler of economic growth and human interactions, while minimising its environmental impact.
Since 2019, the EU has implemented a very ambitious agenda aimed at decarbonising its transport sector. Recent political agreements on the RefuelEU Regulation, which GBTA has welcomed, and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation provide a regulatory framework for this transition. However, to achieve the objectives, set in these laws, the EU needs to develop an enabling approach focused on incentives for low carbon fuels that will help decarbonise aviation. This is particularly imperative as the US actively supports SAF production through the Inflation Reduction Act.
Now that the European Parliament has adopted its position, representatives of EU Member States in the Council need to approve their own before both institutions can start negotiations to agree on a compromise final text. GBTA asks the EU Council to also include support for Sustainable Aviation Fuels in their version of the Act, to ensure the travel sector’s prompt decarbonisation and continued contribution to European economy and society.
