Governments around the world have agreed on a new collective goal of reducing CO2 emissions from the aviation sector by 5 per cent by 2030.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which has nearly 200 countries as members, has adopted a new framework to promote sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) alongside other lower carbon fuels and “cleaner” aviation technologies.

During an ICAO conference in Dubai last week, the organisation also agreed to build an investment hub and transfer technology to allow all countries to take part in a global SAF market.

The deal was described by the UK government as “a compromise agreement” with earlier drafts calling for a 5-8 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions.

ICAO Council president Salvatore Sciacchitano said: “The role of the framework is to facilitate the scale-up of the development and deployment of SAF, LCAF (lower carbon aviation fuels) and other aviation cleaner energies on a global basis, and mainly by providing greater clarity, consistency and predictability to all stakeholders, including those beyond the aviation sector. 

“Investors, governments and others all need greater certainty regarding the policies, regulations, implementation support and investments required so that all countries will have an equal opportunity to contribute to, and benefit from, the expansion in the production and use of these fuels, and the expected emissions reductions they will lead to.” 

The move was welcomed by airlines association IATA, which has been calling for more support from governments to scale up the production of SAF and other lower carbon fuels.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s senior vice president sustainability and chief economist, said: “Airlines are ready with open arms to catch the resulting SAF production. While airlines are at the sharp end of decarbonisation, they cannot bear the burden alone. 

“To be perfectly clear, where government money leads, private money will follow. It is absolutely essential that governments play their part, and we will certainly play ours.” 

SAF, which can be produced from a range of feedstocks such as used cooking oil and animal fats, can reduce CO2 emissions from flights by up to 80 per cent compared with traditional jet fuel. But currently SAF only accounts for 0.2 per cent of aviation fuel used globally.

Later this week, Virgin Atlantic is due to operate the first transatlantic flight using 100 per cent SAF from London to New York.