GOVERNMENT INCLUDES AVIATION IN DRIVE TO CUT EMISSIONS

On 20^th April, the UK government announced that it is setting “the world’s most ambitious climate change target into law to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels”. Crucially for aviation, the UK’s share of international aviation emissions is to be incorporated in this drive towards net zero emissions.

Details of the government’s announcement can be found here. As pressure is ramped up – an emissions reduction of 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels – the aviation industry will be forced to accelerate innovation in technology, fuels and operations. As a crucible of research feeding this innovation chain, UK-ARC and its universities are focused upon initiating step-change research to assist the industry. Climate change is the largest driver of UK-ARC research ambitions and its support for the government’s Jet Zero Council, the Aerospace Technology Institute and the FlyZero goal to deliver a zero-emission aircraft within a decade. Many UK-ARC universities are already supporting FlyZero with projects testing concepts and innovations to help meet this goal.