United Kingdom

Jet zero strategy

Executive

Strategy

Passed in 2022

This document sets the government's decarbonisation vision for the aviation sector in order to enable the country to meet its 2050 net zero target. It seeks to balance regional and international connectivity, economic benefits and a reduction of GHG emissions, and support sustainable airport growth. Intermediary targets and a five year delivery plan has been released as part of this strategy, in order to take urgent measures quickly. Progress will be monitored annually and through a five-year major review.

The strategy focuses on technological solutions, and the six following measures: System efficiencies, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Zero emission flight (ZEF), Markets and removals, Influencing consumers, and addressing non-CO2 impacts and potential mitigation. It also asserts the UK's ambition to lead internationally on reaching an agreement on long-term aspirational goal for the CO2 emissions of international aviation that is aligned with the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. It commits the government to work with the Jet Zero Council and other entities to bring up new technologies and other remission-cutting solutions. It aims to improve operational efficiency, notably for airports, on the short term.

The document seeks to support up to 5,200 UK jobs in the aerospace sector.

The document further states that carbon markets will have a key role in delivering Jet Zero, and greenhouse gas removals (GGRs) are needed to address residual emissions. It says that the government will work with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to gather more evidence on providing consumers with environmental information at the time of booking a flight.

Documents

Full text (PDF) (English)

Climate targets in this law

5 targets

Our aspiration is for zero emission routes connecting different parts of the UK by 2030.

Transport | Fixed level target | Target year: 2030 | Base year:
By 2025 we are committing to have at least five UK SAF plants under construction and a SAF mandate in place with a target of at least 10% SAF by 2030.

Transport | Fixed level target | Target year: 2030 | Base year:
We will target airport operations to be zero emission by 2040 and support further reductions within the existing aviation system.

Transport | Fixed level target | Target year: 2040 | Base year:
We are setting a target for domestic flights to reach net zero by 2040, and next year will launch a consultation on how this will be implemented.

Transport | Fixed level target | Target year: 2040 | Base year:
We are introducing a CO2 emissions reduction trajectory that sees aviation emissions peak in 2019. This trajectory from 2025 to 2050, is based on our "High ambition" scenario, and sets ambitious in-sector targets of 35.4 MtCO2e in 2030, 28.4 MtCO2e in 2040, and 19.3 MtCO2e in 2050.

Transport | Fixed level target | Target year: 2050 | Base year: