Jet Zero Council unveiled

A coalition of businesses, trade bodies, ministers and environmental groups is being developed by the UK government to align the aviation sector with net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Jet Zero Council aims to demonstrate flight across the Atlantic, without harming the environment, within a generation, and to facilitate a green COVID-19 recovery for aviation.

Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, announced the creation of the council during a daily coronavirus briefing on 12 June 2020.

He said: The challenge is to make transport – currently our biggest emitter of greenhouse gases – part of the solution, not the problem..

We're bringing together leaders from aviation, environmental groups and government to form the Jet Zero Council.

“This group will be charged with making net-zero emissions possible for future flights. Our goal – within a generation – will be to demonstrate flight across the Atlantic, without harming the environment.“

The Airport Operators Association (AOA) welcomed the announcement., explaining how the new partnership will make net-zero emissions for aviation a reality.

Funding for sustainable aviation fuels will help to pump-prime an entirely new industry, generating new jobs and economic growth, while reducing emissions from international aviation, said Karen Dee, chief executive of the AOA

“UK airports are doing all they can to reduce the carbon emissions from the operation on the ground, the announcement today will help industry meet its commitments in the sky as well.“

“This advisory body will help ensure government and industry work in partnership to make net-zero carbon emissions for the aviation industry a reality,“