Jet Zero Council had its first meeting on 22nd July – to bring aviation emissions in line with UK 2050 net-zero target

The Jet Zero Council held its first meeting, online, on 22nd July. Tim Johnson, Director of the Aviation Environment Federation (AEF) is the only representative on the council, representing environmental issues. Government press release on the first meeting said: “Chaired by the Transport and Business Secretaries, today’s first ever Jet Zero council meeting will discuss how to decarbonise the aviation sector while supporting its growth and strengthening the UK’s position as a world leader in the sector.”  And Grant Shapps said: “The Jet Zero Council is a huge step forward in making change – as we push forward with innovative technologies such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and eventually fully electric planes, we will achieve guilt-free flying and boost sustainability for years to come.” … Producers of novel fuels are excited. … They all want lots of government money.  Tim Johnson said: “It was a positive start, with an appropriate degree of ambition and urgency, a technology-neutral stance that will treat all options equally, and recognition that getting new technology and SAF into the fleet requires a regulatory framework that includes carbon pricing. That’s a good platform to work from.”
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Jet Zero Council

The Jet Zero Council (JZC) is a partnership between industry and government to bring together ministers and chief executive officer-level stakeholders to drive the ambitious delivery of new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions.

The JZC will focus on developing UK capabilities to deliver net zero-emission commercial flight by:

  • developing and industrialising zero-emission aviation and aerospace technologies
  • establishing UK production facilities for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and commercialising the industry by driving down production costs
  • developing a coordinated approach to the policy and regulatory framework needed to deliver net zero aviation by 2050

The objectives of the JZC are to:

  • provide ministerial and senior industry leadership on efforts to deliver UK capabilities for net zero aviation
  • identify and optimise the strategic, economic and international benefits of developing these industries in the UK, and overcome the barriers industry face in achieving these goals
  • accelerate the design, manufacture, testing, certification, infrastructure and commercial operation of zero emission aircraft and aviation systems in the UK through sustained investment in applied research and development (R&D) and fostering greater collaboration across sectors
  • accelerate the delivery of SAF by supporting the investment in first-of-a-kind SAF plants, supporting research and development of new pathways and driving down production costs through upscaling and innovation
  • support grassroots innovation in these areas and make the UK the best place in the world to develop new aviation technology
  • challenge existing approaches by involving disruptors and innovators in the dialogue

Chairs

Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Transport Secretary
Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, Business Secretary

Members

Robert Courts MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
Rachel Maclean MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
Nadhim Zahawi MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Paul Stein, Chief Technology Officer, Rolls-Royce
Julie Kitcher, Executive Vice President, Airbus
Tony Wood, Chief Executive Officer, Meggitt and ADS President
Russ Dunn, Chief Technology Officer, GKN
Val Miftakhov, Chief Executive Officer, ZeroAvia
Peter Mather, Senior Vice President, Europe and Head of Country, UK, bp plc
Anna Mascolo, Chief Executive Officer, Shell Global Aviation
Neville Hargreaves, Vice President, Waste to Fuels, Velocys
Nina Skorupska CBE REA, The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology
Dr Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive Officer, Lanzatech
Alex Cruz, Chief Executive Officer, British Airways [now left. Perhaps Sean Doyle?]
Shai Weiss, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Atlantic
Johan Lundgren, Chief Executive Officer, easyjet
Jonathan Hinkles, Chief Executive Officer, LoganAir
Dawn Wilson, Managing Director, TUI Airways
John Holland-Kaye, Chief Executive Officer, Heathrow
Charlie Cornish, Chief Executive Officer, MAG
Dom Hallas, Executive Director, Coadec
Jacqueline de Rojas, President, Tech UK
Simon Crabtree, Investment Manager, Mercia Asset Management
Tim Johnson, Director, AEF
Gary Elliot, Aerospace Technology Institute
Dr Alicia Greated, Chief Executive Officer, Knowledge Transfer Network
Professor Iain Gray, Director of Aerospace, Cranfield University
Professor Peter Littlewood, Executive Chairman, Faraday Institution
Kyle Martin, Vice President, European Affairs, GAMA
Trevor Woods, independent consultant

Terms of reference

JZC terms of reference (PDF, 301KB, 2 pages)
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/921493/jet-zero-council-terms-of-reference.pdf

Press releases

Prepare for lift-off: Jet Zero Council to deliver carbon-free flight
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prepare-for-lift-off-jet-zero-council-to-deliver-carbon-free-flight

Contact details
JetZeroCouncilSecretariat@dft.gov.uk

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/jet-zero-council#members

 


Government press release on 22nd July:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-commits-350-million-to-fuel-green-recovery


 

A letter from the 35 cross-party MPs to Chancellor Rishi Sunak urges the government to “supercharge a green aviation recovery” by taking three actions:

  • Commit £500 million ($620m) in funding, matched by industry, to support the delivery of SAF production facilities in the UK;
  • Increase funding for the Aerospace Technology Institute to enable the UK to become a world-leader in developing more efficient engines as well as hybrid and electric aircraft; and
  • Provide short-term funding towards enabling UK airspace changes that would cut emissions immediately.

More on this by GreenAir online:  https://www.greenaironline.com/news.php?viewStory=2721

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See earlier:

Government announce a new “Jet Zero” council … but no details or notice to environmental organisations

In a surprise announcement at Friday’s government Covid-19 daily briefing, Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, revealed plans for a ‘jet zero’ council, that will include representatives from the aviation industry, Government and environmental groups. Its alleged goal is “to make zero emissions transatlantic flight possible within a generation.” No further details were made available. No environmental group was given any notice about this new initiative. As the principal environmental body working on aviation issues, the AEF (Aviation Environment Federation) should have been included, if the government initiative was serious – not just a bit of nice publicity for the aviation sector. AEF has written to Shapps, to say that if the ‘jet zero’ council is to be a worthwhile initiative, the Government must ensure that it does not simply provide good PR for airlines and airports about a future aspiration – while allowing current emissions to grow unhindered. The initiative must be part of a wider programme of government action to deliver the UK’s climate commitments. The council must operate in a transparent manner including engaging with environmental organisations and all relevant stakeholders. To read the letter in full, click here.   

https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2020/06/government-announce-a-new-jet-zero-council-but-no-details-or-notice-to-environmental-organisations/

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