Aviation Needs a Globally Harmonized Sustainability Standard

The aviation industry has strongly committed to achieving carbon-neutral growth by 2020 and reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions significantly by 2050. Sustainable aviation biofuel will play a major role in helping the industry reach its GHG reduction goals. Only a few challenges remain to the development of a strong sustainable aviation biofuel market.

The industry has already overcome the technical challenges related to converting biomass like algae, plants, and waste to jet fuel, and continues its efforts to improve the economies of scale for growing and processing biomass. Better economies of scale will help create a sustainable commercial market.

Sustainable aviation biofuels release less GHG emissions over their lifecycle than conventional jet fuel, this result in less carbon taxes or penalties to airlines. However, gaining these benefits requires the purchase of certified sustainable aviation biofuel. Currently there is no globally harmonized sustainability standard and certification process for aviation fuel. This is one of the last major challenges facing the commercialization of aviation biofuel.

Problems occur when multiple sustainability standards and processes exist across countries, regions, or continents. A patchwork set of regulations can cause significant bureaucratic inefficiency and costs. This could potentially inhibit the use of sustainable aviation biofuel. For example, an airline purchasing biofuel that is certified sustainable in the country of departure may be unable to account for that purchase in the country of arrival, if the sustainability standards in these countries differ.

A globally harmonized system streamlines international aviation operations and helps to drive the adoption of sustainable aviation biofuel. Members of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group believe the best candidate for a global standard and certification process to date is the one proposed by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB).

The RSB used an international multi-stakeholder process drawing from farmers, airlines, fuel producers, government regulators, non-governmental organizations, and others to create their standard. The RSB is currently working on benchmarking their process and determining how it integrates with some local and regional sustainability legislation. SAFUG members encourage the development and adoption of such a global sustainability standard.