Innovative ways to share the cost of Cleaner energies infrastructure changes across the value chain.

In June 2021, ACI member airports committed at the global level to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, for their own operations.This was followed in October 2021 by a commitment from the entire aviation industry through the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) and finally, by ICAO Member States through the Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) at the 41st ICAO Assembly.

In line with that, ICAO and its Member States have adopted the “ICAO Global Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Lower Carbon Aviation Fuels (LCAF) and other Aviation Cleaner Energies” during the Third Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) in November 2023. The ICAO Global Framework sets a collective global aspirational vision [1] to reduce CO₂ emissions in international aviation by 5 percent by 2030 through the use of SAF, LCAF, and other aviation cleaner energies, in contribution to the LTAG. The role of this global framework is to facilitate the global scale-up in the development and deployment of SAF, LCAF, and other aviation cleaner energies by providing greater clarity, consistency, and predictability to all stakeholders, including those beyond the aviation sector. It provides clarity on the policies, regulations, implementation support, and financing and investments required. The aim is to ensure that all States have equal opportunities to contribute to, and benefit from, the expected emissions reductions from such aviation cleaner energies. As described in the ICAO Global Framework adopted by CAAF/3, the achievement of the collective aspirational Vision needs a collaborative effort with action required from different stakeholders, and States are to encourage relevant stakeholders (i.e., aircraft operators, airports, aircraft and engine manufacturers, fuel producers and suppliers, ICAO’s approved Sustainability Certification Schemes, and fuel standards bodies) to plan, develop and implement their own actions to help achieve the Vision. Transition to cleaner energy use at airports involves a fundamental shift from conventional, fossil fuel-based energy sources to more sustainable alternatives. This transition is imperative for mitigating the environmental impact of the aviation ecosystem. It encompasses a comprehensive approach that integrates various initiatives aimed at reducing the amount of energy used by means of efficiency improvements, changing the energy to renewable alternatives, and promoting overall environmental responsibility in airport and airline operations. Various examples of action, under Section 6 (Appendix 1) of this document, describe initiatives taken by airports to integrate renewable alternatives. In addition, airports should plan and deliver changes in airport infrastructure necessary to ensure efficient supply and access to drop-in fuels and, in collaboration with aircraft operators, fuel producers, and other stakeholders innovative ways to share the cost of such infrastructure changes across the value chain.

Eco Toolkit Cleaner Energies at Airports, explore