Sustainability In The Air

As we work towards ambitious 2050 net-zero goals, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is emerging as a promising, yet complex, part of the solution. While Europe and North America advance on SAF and offset strategies, CDR offers aviation a unique dual benefit: fuelling the production of e-fuels and providing an alternative to traditional carbon offsets. However, high costs, limited CO2 supply, and policy uncertainties remain significant obstacles. Our new report explores the current state and future of CDR in aviation, with insights on: 💚 Key CDR technologies, from nature-based to direct air capture solutions; 💚 Examining cost challenges and the path to economic viability; 💚 Comparing carbon removals to offsets and why CDR may be the stronger choice; 💚 Policy and regulatory landscapes across the US, Canada, EU, and beyond. Plus: With insights into 12 pioneering companies in the CDR space, our report is an essential read for anyone looking to stay ahead in the industry’s race to net zero. ➡️ Download your free copy now: https://lnkd.in/dyTPjH7W Dirk Singer Shubhodeep Pal Shashank Nigam ✈ Ayushi Badola Ligia Helena Fernández Esteve Baiba Dreimane #cdr #carbonremovals

What if airports could do more than connect destinations – what if they could help save the planet? Since 2015, Christina Cassotis has been proving that’s possible. As CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), she’s turning vision into action and spearheading efforts in SAF production, hydrogen innovation, and energy independence. Her approach demonstrates how airports can evolve from mere infrastructure providers to catalysts for industry-wide environmental innovation. In today's episode of Sustainability in the Air, Cassotis sits down with SimpliFlying’s CEO, Shashank Nigam, to share her ambitious vision for transforming the airport into a sustainable aviation hub. Here are the key highlights of the conversation: 💚 Pittsburgh Airport’s transformation from hub to sustainability pioneer (2:55) 💚 Building a sustainable business model (5:30) 💚 Microgrid independence and energy innovation (12:50) 💚 Creating multiple pathways for SAF production (15:55) 💚 Hydrogen initiatives and ground operations (24:10) 💚 Innovation through partnerships and testing (32:20) 💚 A vision for regional sustainability (35:05) 💚 Rapid Fire! (39:05) 🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform or subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/dDuTd6et #podcast #sustainableaviation

Big changes start with bold questions – and this year, we asked plenty. How can aviation tackle greenwashing? What’s next for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)? Which technologies will lead the charge in decarbonising flight? In 2024, our eight reports uncovered critical insights to answer these and other questions: Industry overview 💚 Sustainable Aviation Outlook Report 2024 https://lnkd.in/d-UAsmyH 💚 Beyond Greenwashing https://lnkd.in/dWiR9b7k Emerging technology insights 💚 The State of Sustainable Aviation Technologies 2024 https://lnkd.in/dixKySiM 💚 The Role of Carbon Removals in Decarbonising Aviation https://lnkd.in/dJw8fqGQ 💚 Electric Aviation Powerlist 2024 https://lnkd.in/dShu7w3X Understanding SAF, in collaboration with our friends at Sustainable Aviation Futures 💚 Pathways to SAF: APAC edition https://lnkd.in/drsmv463 💚 Pathways to SAF: NA edition https://lnkd.in/dieTD6kE 💚 Pathways to SAF: Europe edition https://lnkd.in/dcKJJF3q Which one made you pause, rethink, or get inspired? Tell us your favourite in the comments – and let us know what topics you’d like us to dive into in 2025. #sustainabilityintheair

Can the aviation industry achieve net zero by 2050? The answer lies in the next five years. The Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA) has recently released a report, “Five Years to Chart a New Future for Aviation,” which identifies four key Sustainable Aviation Goals that must be met by 2030 to keep net-zero ambitions on track. To illustrate the stakes, the report explores three scenarios for net-zero aviation by 2050, each showing how success – or failure – of near-term actions shapes the industry’s future: ➡️  Scenario 1 (Current Trajectory): Shows how current ambitious targets for SAF production, without implementing the 2030 Goals, fail to achieve net zero by 2050. ➡️  Scenario 2 (Moonshots Success): Details how successful hydrogen technology deployment combined with Operation Blue Skies could achieve net zero while reducing biomass dependence. ➡️  Scenario 3 (Efficiency and SAF): Demonstrates how aggressive efficiency measures combined with sustainable SAF deployment could achieve net zero even if moonshot technologies prove unviable. 🎧 Dive deeper into these insights with Professor Robert Miller, who unpacks the report’s findings and their implications, on the latest episode of Sustainability in the Air: https://lnkd.in/dfMkHk3p #sustainableaviation #netzero

10% SAF by 2030? According to T&E's SAF observatory, we're far from that. Their data shows that North American airlines have secured 2.7% SAF for 2030, while European carriers project 1.3%. This won't even compensate for expected industry growth. The study of 77 global airlines highlights important differences in approach. European airlines focus on e-kerosene (15% of their SAF) and avoid crop-based biofuels, while North American carriers use more crop-based fuels (45% of their SAF mix) and less e-kerosene (5%). T&E's study also reveals: * None achieved an 'A' grade, though @airfrance KLM Royal Dutch Airlines did score highest with a 'B' * Less than half of airlines have SAF targets * No airline has set e-kerosene (Ptl) targets * T&E reinforces a point that Haldane Dodd frequently makes - namely that the oil giants are slow in stepping up to the plate and are even, in some cases, going backwards in terms of investment The message is clear: to make real progress on aviation emissions by 2030, we need both higher volumes and better-quality sustainable fuels. And the fossil fuel giants need to invest more in helping make this happen. #SustainableAviation #ClimateAction #NetZero #Aviation #Sustainability

Climate tech innovation continues to break barriers. Omani company 44.01 has developed a way to permanently transform CO2 into rock in under a year – a process that would naturally take decades. Backed by €33.9 million ($37 million) in Series A funding and recognised with the 2022 Earthshot Prize, 44.01 is scaling up its impact. For aviation, 44.01's permanent carbon storage offers a promising pathway alongside sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Airlines like Swiss International Air Lines and British Airways have already invested in carbon removal partnerships, highlighting the potential of solutions that move beyond emission reductions to permanent removal. Learn more about this innovative approach in our latest newsletter by Dirk Singer: https://lnkd.in/dt3JFK5g #carbonremoval

Happy Friday! We’ve got 20 news headlines that you won’t want to miss this week – all highlighting the latest advancements and initiatives in aviation sustainability. Subscribe for free to receive new posts straight in your inbox: https://lnkd.in/dpXnQYqn ✍️ By Shubhodeep Pal #sustainableaviation

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In today’s podcast episode, Professor Rob Miller, Director of the Whittle Laboratory at University of Cambridge and head of the Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA), explains why aviation faces a critical turning point. While only 10% of the world has ever flown, aviation already contributes 2.5% of global CO2 emissions – rising to 4% when including non-CO2 effects – and demand is set to double by 2050. "We’ve got all these people who want to take their first flight, and they have a right to take that first flight." Miller challenges conventional roadmaps, often depicted as smooth transitions to sustainability, arguing that they oversimplify the reality of technological change. History shows that one dominant solution emerges (think cars over horses), and progress is unpredictable and non-linear. The AIA’s recent report, “Five Years to Chart a New Future for Aviation,” warns that current efforts are dangerously off track. Without decisive action by 2030, aviation risks locking itself into unsustainable practices. Overreliance on biomass for jet fuel, for instance, could worsen environmental impacts rather than solve them. Here are the key highlights of the conversation: 💚 Understanding technology transitions and tipping points (2:55) 💚 Operation Blue Skies: Tackling contrail emissions (11:30) 💚 Bold measures for fuel efficiency (18:10) 💚 Sustainable Aviation Fuel challenges (30:25) 💚 Moonshot technologies (38:25) 💚 Future scenarios and pathways (45:45) 💚 Rapid Fire! (48:20) 🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform or subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/dfMkHk3p #sustainableaviation #netzero Shashank Nigam ✈

While emissions reduction is aviation’s primary focus, residual emissions that cannot be eliminated remain a critical challenge. Direct air capture (DAC) offers a powerful solution. Unlike trees, which rely on photosynthesis, DAC removes CO2 from the atmosphere much faster and with a smaller land footprint. It’s also highly flexible, capturing emissions from any location – ideal for aviation’s mobile, global footprint. While not a substitute for emission reduction efforts like SAF, DAC is a vital complement, addressing what cannot be eliminated. Listen to Anna Stukas from 1PointFive share more about this game-changing technology on all major podcast platforms: https://lnkd.in/dGbEwhjS #dac #directcarboncapture