Unsustainable growth projections for 2050 f2s2b

T&E’s analysis shows that, despite anticipated fuel efficiency improvements, EU airport enger traffic will more than double by 2050 compared to 2019 levels. The report indicates that sector emissions will remain high, with planes departing from EU airports still consuming 21.1 million tonnes of fossil kerosene annually by 2050, representing a 59% increase in fuel consumption since 2019.

The role of sustainable fuels in decarbonization 6b1h54

While Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) are considered a key solution for decarbonizing aviation, T&E highlights significant challenges. The report emphasizes that SAF adoption will not be enough to offset the sector's rapid growth. Even with SAF ing for 42% of fuel use by 2049, the sector could still burn as much fossil kerosene as it did in 2023. Furthermore, biofuels, a major component of SAFs, are often unsustainable, with four out of every five liters potentially coming from feedstocks that do not meet true sustainability standards.

The urgent need for policies to address emissions g4z6y

With European aviation emissions projected to be only 3% lower in 2049 compared to 2019, T&E argues that the current growth projections are incompatible with Europe’s climate ambitions, particularly the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. For this date, the sector is still projected to emit 79 million tonnes of CO2, putting Europe’s carbon budget at risk.

Source: T&E

Jo Dardenne, aviation director at T&E, stressed that the sector’s growth plans are “completely irreconcilable” with Europe’s climate goals and warned that without urgent action, aviation emissions will continue to rise unchecked. The European Commission has yet to implement concrete measures to limit sector growth, and T&E calls for decisive action to curb airport expansion, reduce corporate travel, and increase taxes on the aviation industry.

As part of its recommendations, T&E urges the European Commission to adopt policies that would limit airport infrastructure growth, reduce business travel to 50% of 2019 levels, and address the under-taxation of the sector. Without these measures, T&E warns that the aviation industry could contribute an additional 960 million tonnes of CO2 between 2023 and 2050, further straining Europe’s climate targets.

Source: T&E

Despite the European Commission’s ambitious goal of reducing emissions by 90% by 2040, T&E argues that without comprehensive policies to tackle aviation emissions, the sector’s unchecked growth will undermine efforts to combat climate change. The report concludes with a call for immediate action to steer aviation toward a more sustainable future.