Thread by @ChiefExecCCC

Today we are calling on @transportgovuk to bring International #Aviation and #Shipping emissions formally within the UK’s #NetZero target.

It will have the very important effect of establishing a comprehensive legal framework for reducing UK emissions for the first time.

https://twitter.com/thecccuk/status/1176270016477425664

We recommend that the aviation and shipping sectors should themselves reach #NetZero, requiring a major effort from Government and industry. These are international challenges, requiring an international response, but bringing them into the UK target will drive the pace of change

#Shipping emissions can be reduced to zero or near zero through the use of alternative fuels. We have considered the use of hydrogen and ammonia for example.

#Aviation emissions can also be substantially reduced, through new technology and changes in the way planes are flown to improve fuel efficiency. But there are not the same opportunities to reach zero emissions directly. Long haul flights are still likely to require fossil fuels.

So we have to consider our demand for #aviation itself. Our scenario for 2050 implies *at-most* a 25% increase in demand, from today, while cutting aviation emissions by 20%. Current projections are for double that growth in demand, so this will require a real strategy.

There are hard choices for government and industry: growing airport capacity as-planned in London, including Heathrow, leaves next to no room for growth anywhere else in the UK. And consideration should be given to other measures to constrain demand, like a frequent flyer levy.

Reaching #NetZero will require some sectors to go even further than planned. #Aviation is likely to account for as much as a third of residual emissions in 2050, so the more that this can be reduced, e.g. through further constraining demand, the easier #NetZero becomes.

After these steps, any residual emissions from #Aviation and #Shipping must be offset. We are recommending these are handled with greenhouse gas reduction approaches (eg Direct Air Capture or BECCS), which can be demonstrably additional and scaleable - not just tree planting.

These offsets require markets for GGRs that do not currently exist. They are not cheap and they are not a free pass - crucially, they are constrained by the availability of land. Synthetic fuels might offer something similar, but our view is these are likely to be very expensive.

The important step to take is to bring international #aviation and #shipping emissions within the UK target - as with the Scottish target. It provides the incentive for the steps above. It’s a step that will demonstrate real global leadership before #COP26 and we shouldn’t delay.