IATA remains committed to net zero 2050 target amid SAF fears

Despite deep concerns about the availability, cost and lack of government support for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), IATA and its member airlines have not used the association’s 81st Annual General Meeting in Delhi to discuss delaying the 2050 target date to achieve net zero carbon emissions, the association’s Director General Willie Walsh told media at the closing press conference.

IATA’s Willie Walsh said airlines are not wavering from 2050 net zero target (photo: IATA).

“I think all of the panel discussions were acknowledging that this is not something we can ignore, but I think there is great concern that we're not making sufficient progress, not as airlines, but as the value chain that needs to support the airlines transitioning to net zero in 2050, and that's the reason we're calling it out,” explained Walsh.

“We clearly want to see more coordinated action on the part of governments. I think we're not being helped by countries and regions with mandates without accompanying incentives to stimulate production.

“I think we've been able to demonstrate that mandates have not done anything to promote the additional production of SAF but have merely added additional costs,” continued Walsh.

“With no environmental benefit, and that's a great concern to all the [airline] CEOs, I think we're also concerned that a number of the key players who have said nice words about net zero in 2050 aren't matching those words with actions.”

During the AGM, IATA has heavily criticised the oil majors for reining back on investing in the energy transition and cutting back their SAF production plans.“We have made clear from the very beginning that the airline industry will not be able to achieve net zero in 2050 unless everybody in the wider value chain supports the industry in doing that.

“I've used the word sounding the alarm. I think it is a wakeup call,” he stressed. “We still have time to get there, but we do need to see more action on the parts of all of the partners in the value chain to make sure that the industry can get there.”

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