US, Canada and UK transport ministers chair SAF investment high-level meeting

The UK and US governments are to work together to reduce aviation emissions and share knowledge to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuels. Coinciding with the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Transportation Ministers’ Meeting being held in Detroit, UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper will meet his US counterpart, Pete Buttigieg, as well as those from Canada and Singapore “as they work to decarbonise  flight and usher in a new era of sustainable travel.” Representing Singapore is Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Transport and Minister-in-Charge of Trade relations, who is expected to explore opportunities for further collaboration with APEC counterparts in the Asia-Pacific region. Ministers from the four countries will be attending the inaugural International Summit on Investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuels in Detroit on May 15, which will include representatives from the North American aviation and fuel industries and financial institutions.

Speaking on the eve of the summit in Detroit, Harper, who will be co-chairing the high-level meeting with his US and Canadian counterparts, commented: “While an ocean separates us, we’ve never been more aligned with the USA on the future of aviation and what that entails – whether it’s boosting jobs, opening new trade opportunities or delivering guilt-free air travel.

“This trip is a crucial part of our work to reduce emissions from aviation alongside the US, Canada and Singapore, and I look forward to meeting my counterparts and industry representatives.”

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) said the summit would “act as a springboard for discussions on how to overcome future barriers the international sector may face, such as the widespread sourcing of materials to produce next-generation fuels, as well as the investment needed to help deliver that vision.”

It added: “With airlines spending billions on fuel every year, ensuring SAF is at the forefront of future investment decisions is key to piloting the sector to a cleaner future. The summit is an opportunity for the UK to work with other governments and industry leaders to progress the UK’s commitment to at least 10% of jet fuel being from sustainable sources by 2030.”

As global advocates for SAF, it said the US and UK would look to working even more closely to share their experience and work towards growing the SAF industry in both countries.

As well as the four governments, those due to take part in the summit include:

Advanced Biofuels Association
Aerospace Industry Association of Canada
Air Canada
Air Transat
Air Transport Action Group
Airlines for America
Airlines UK
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
American Petroleum Institute
Blackrock
Boeing
Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation fuels (C-SAF)
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)
Citi
Delta Air Lines
DHL
General Electric Aerospace
Hawaiian Airlines
IATA
JP Morgan Chase
Lowercarbon Capital
Moody’s Investors Service
National Airlines Council of Canada
NEXA Capital Partners
Rocky Mountain Institute
United Airlines
UPS
World Energy

Photo: Heathrow Airport

Christopher Surgenor

Editor

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