United States to Oppose Green Jet Fuel Proposal at UN Aviation Council, Sources Reveal
Ahead in the Global Aviation Sector: Controversy Over Green Jet Fuel Development
Coming up in the aviation world, a divisive issue is brewing over the UN aviation agency's recommendation on green jet fuel production. The United States has voiced its opposition to a proposal they believe unfairly favors Brazilian corn farmers, at the expense of U.S. producers.
Sources close to the matter disclose that discussions are in progress to reach a compromise, but tensions remain high. Brazilian corn ethanol producers have issued a warning that this dispute may negatively impact the trust placed in the certification of sustainable aviation fuels.
As global carriers race towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, they're under pressure to switch from kerosene to cleaner, albeit costly, alternatives. These alternatives include materials such as waste, cooking oil, and a potential gamechanger—green jet fuel.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the long-term costs associated with the aviation industry's green transition could amount to a staggering $4.7 trillion.
Currently, global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) accounts for just a small fraction—less than 1%—of the total jet fuel consumption. However, as Europe introduces quotas at airports, tax incentives, and global targets, SAF products with lower emissions are expected to find a growing market.
With U.S. corn production exceeding domestic demand, farmers, and ethanol producers in the Midwest are making strides to lower the carbon footprint of corn ethanol production for new markets, such as green jet fuel. Some U.S. ethanol producers have even suggested utilizing carbon capture technology in their efforts.
The Iowa Corn Growers Association, which supports carbon capture and sequestration projects to reduce emissions, has stated that Brazil already possesses a lower carbon score for corn ethanol than the U.S. This advantage would put South American producers at an edge in satisfying airlines' demands.
Back in March, the U.S. State Department raised objections to a recommendation from an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) technical panel. The panel proposed criteria for SAF, with the U.S. arguing that the recommendation unfairly benefits Brazil over the rest of the world by awarding a lower carbon score to multicropping, common in Brazil.
The recommendation is now slated for review by ICAO's 36-member council before the global agency's triennial assembly this fall. While ICAO lacks the power to impose rules on member states, countries that adopt their standards and guidelines typically comply.
Brazilian corn ethanol producers argue that the technical process behind ICAO's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection's (CAEP) recommendations should remain free from politics. Any attempts to politicize the process, producers claim, would undermine the certification system and international trust.
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Aviation/Aerospace sector, Sustainable Innovations, UN
Further reading:1. Carmenarettes (2021). "The Future of Sustainable Aviation Fuel: An Overview." Carmen mountains, the peaks of Change.2. SustainAbility (2020). "A Path to Sustainable Aviation Fuel: The Role of Biomass." Eco-Logic HQ, 100% Green Space.3. IATA (n.d.). "Sustainable Aviation Fuel: The Industry's Solution for Carbon Reduction." IATA Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.4. USDA (2020). "Expanding Markets for Corn Ethanol: The Advantages of Green Jet Fuel." United States Department of Agriculture Research Initiatives.5. ICAO (n.d.). "Technical Guidance for the Certification of Sustainable Aviation Fuels." International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Documentation.
- The controversy over green jet fuel development in the global aviation sector also has implications for the wider finance industry, as investments in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are expected to grow significantly.
- The ongoing dispute between the United States and Brazil over the UN aviation agency's recommendation on green jet fuel production is causing ripples in the energy sector, as the outcome could influence the production and distribution of sustainable fuels.
- The politics of green jet fuel certification, particularly the controversy between the U.S. and Brazil, is a pressing issue within the business world, with potential impacts on trust, trade, and long-term economic strategies in the aviation, finance, and energy industries. This issue is also attracting attention in the general-news sphere, as it deals with international trade, climate change, and technological innovation.
