The pioneering partnership between Government and the aviation sector to fast-track zero emission flight has taken its next step forward today (Friday 25th September) with the publication of the group’s members and key aims.
Following the first meeting of the Council earlier in the summer, representatives from the UK’s leading aerospace, aviation and technology sectors will work in lockstep with the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, the Aviation Minister, Robert Courts, and the Business Secretary, Alok Sharma to drive forward the Government’s ambitions for clean aviation.
Industry leaders from Rolls-Royce, Airbus and Shell along with representatives from some of Britain’s top aviation, tech, NGO and investor groups, including John Holland-Kaye (Heathrow) and Alex Cruz (IAG)) will aim to accelerate Government plans through a laser focus on UK production facilities for sustainable aviation fuels and the acceleration of the design, manufacture and commercial operation of zero emission aircraft in the UK, helping speed the sector towards a low-carbon future.
Aviation Minister Robert Courts, said:
“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges faced by modern society, and we know we need to go further and faster if we are to make businesses sustainable long into the future.
“That’s why we’re bringing together Government, business and investors to reduce emissions in the aviation sector – through innovative technologies, such as sustainable fuels, hybrid and eventually electric planes, we will build a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future for all.”
The Council, which will establish sub-committees to accelerate progress, will focus on reducing carbon dioxide emissions and delivering clean growth. It will operate in the context of the UK’s wider target for net zero emissions by 2050 – one of the most ambitious targets in the world.
The partnership will leverage the UK’s world leading aviation sector, which employs 230,000 people in the UK and contributes £33billion to the UK economy, to effectively tackle emissions while encouraging growth and green innovation. Through this partnership, the UK will go further than ever before in developing the first zero emission transatlantic passenger aircraft.
The publication of the Council’s aims today coincides with the Aviation Minister’s visit to Cranfield, to witness the world’s first hydrogen-electric passenger plane flight. ZeroAvia, a leading innovator in decarbonising commercial aviation and supported by BEIS through the ATI Programme, completed the flight at the company’s R&D facility in Cranfield, England, with the Piper M-class six-seat plane completing taxi, takeoff, a full pattern circuit, and landing.
The full list of attendees can be found online, along with the terms of reference.
