The UK is vowing to work more closely with the US on the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as the two countries host a summit on investment in producing more of the biofuel.
UK transport secretary Mark Harper has travelled to the US for the Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Investment Summit in Detroit on Monday (15 May) to meet with his counterparts from the US, Canada and Singapore, including US secretary of transportation Pete Buttigieg.
“The pair will discuss how to work together on reducing aviation emissions and share knowledge to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) - tackling climate change and harnessing the potential of the SAF industry to grow the economy,” said the UK’s Department for Transport in a statement about the planned meeting with Buttigieg.
The summit will also be attended by representatives from Boeing, International Air Transport Association (IATA), United Airlines, JP Morgan Chase, World Energy and American Petroleum Institute.
The UK’s Department for Transport (DFT) stressed the “importance of unlocking private investment to help grow the sustainable aviation sector, create more UK jobs and grow the economy”.
Producing enough SAF to help the global aviation industry to meet its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is seen as being crucial in the coming years, with current production of sustainable fuels still at very low levels.
The UK government wants at least 10 per cent of jet fuel to be produced from sustainable sources by 2030 as part of its wider Jet Zero Strategy, which aims to decarbonise flying by 2050 “without directly limiting demand for aviation”.
Harper added: “While an ocean separates us, we’ve never been more aligned with the US on the future of aviation and what that entails - whether it’s boosting jobs, opening new trade opportunities or delivering guilt-free air travel.
“This trip is a crucial part of our work to reduce emissions from aviation alongside the US, Canada and Singapore.”