Aviation Is as Sustainable Now as It Will Be in Your Lifetime
The challenges of operating a jet aircraft with alternative fuel mean there’s only one way to cut emissions from flying: Don’t get on a plane.
Hydrogen might struggle for acceptance as a sustainable aviation fuel.
Photographer: Bettmann/Getty Images
Could the world be on the brink of a new, cleaner era of aviation? That’s certainly what you might think from the way some people are talking.
Mandates for blending so-called Sustainable Aviation Fuel into jet kerosene form one plank of the European Union’s recently announced plans to reduce emissions 55% by 2030. The technology will be key to airlines’ ambitions to get to net zero by mid-century, according to a study by the World Economic Forum. Airbus SE has released dazzling concept designs for three zero-emission aircraft, and plans to devote five years to studying the idea before deciding whether to spend money developing a commercial version.