News: Climate Week NYC- Powering Solutions Ahead of COP30. Read it here.
Parts of this site were translated using AI. Accuracy may vary.
News: Climate Week NYC- Powering Solutions Ahead of COP30. Read it here.
Parts of this site were translated using AI. Accuracy may vary.
Accelerating zero and low emission technologies in hard-to-abate sectors
Aviation represents ~3% of present-day global emissions. This share is expected to rise as the sector grows and other industries decarbonize more rapidly. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is the industry’s most significant decarbonization lever, projected to deliver ~65% of the total abatement required to reach Net Zero by 2050. SAF is jet fuel produced either from (1) low-carbon feedstocks such as used cooking oil, animal fats, and crop residues, or (2) by synthesizing hydrocarbons from captured CO₂ and green hydrogen.
Axis: Transitioning Energy, Industry, Transport
Key Objective: Accelerating zero and low emission technologies in hard-to-abate sectors
SAF can reduce life-cycle CO₂ emissions by up to 80% per liter, and as a drop-in solution it requires no modifications to airline operations, enabling immediate adoption. SAF certificates already enable companies to claim verifiable Scope 3 reductions from both travel and freight. However, high costs—three to five times higher than conventional jet fuel—and limited technological pathways (mainly HEFA today) constrain large-scale deployment, with SAF accounting for only 0.3% of global aviation fuel use in 2024. Unlocking investments, scaling supply, lowering costs, and driving demand will require strong international cooperation and long-term policy certainty. While synthetic SAF produced from renewable energy and green hydrogen is still at an early stage, it will be essential to complement bio-based SAF. Global South countries, with abundant biomass and renewable resources, are well-positioned to become major supplier hubs, while the SAF value chain creates skilled jobs in agriculture and industry and strengthens energy security.
1) In 2024, SAF production reached 1 Mt (1.25 billion liters), representing just 0.3% of global jet fuel use.
2) 29 SAF plants are either operating or at final investment decision stage, with a potential annual capacity of 13.3 Mt.
3) Airlines have announced 165 offtake agreements, covering a total volume of 53.9 Mt.
1) IATA 2) MPP Global Tracker 3) ICAO
