The European Commission Wednesday welcomed the political agreement to decarbonise the aviation sector, reached last night between the European Parliament and EU member states.
Once in place, the new rules will help decarbonise the aviation sector by requiring fuel suppliers to blend sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with kerosene in increasing amounts from 2025, it said in a press release.
This measure on its own is projected to reduce aircraft CO2 emissions by around two-thirds by 2050, and provide climate and air quality benefits by reducing non-CO2 emissions.
The new rules will require aviation fuel suppliers to supply a minimum share of SAF at EU airports, starting at 2 percent of overall fuel supplied by 2025 and reaching 70 percent by 2050.
The new EU jet fuel blend will need to also contain a minimum share of the most modern and environmentally-friendly synthetic fuels, which increases over time.
Aircraft operators departing from EU airports will have to refuel only with the fuel necessary for the flight, to avoid emissions related to extra weight or carbon leakage caused by ?‘tankering’ practices (deliberately carrying excess fuel to avoid refuelling with SAF).
The political agreement now requires formal adoption by the Parliament and the EU member states. Once this process is completed, the new legislation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enter into force with immediate effect.
Source: Kuwait News Agency