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ISTANBUL, June 6 (Reuters) - Global airlines called on Tuesday for broad co-operation to reach "very tough" emission targets and pledged to release interim climate targets next year as the industry aims for a goal of net-zero by 2050. Airlines are relying for 62% of their emissions reduction target on the fuel, which is currently between two to four times more expensive than kerosene. Walsh said airlines were not afraid to confront the fact that their share of total emissions will rise as other industries with fewer technological hurdles decarbonise. "Different parts of the world are moving at different paces and for us, representing global airlines, we've got to factor all of that into account." One thing airlines agreed on was frustration at aircraft delays, which have disrupted their schedules, with CEOs asking IATA to lobby planemakers.

Persons: Willie Walsh, Walsh, Jo Dardenne, Tim Clark, Clark, we've, Joanna Plucinska, Tim Hepher, Andrew Heavens, Sriraj Kalluvila, Alexander Smith Organizations: Aviation, International Air Transport Association, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, SAF, Transport, Environment, Dubai's Emirates, Reuters, Thomson Locations: ISTANBUL, Istanbul, planemakers, United States, Dubai

☆ Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker: Aviation will miss net zero target
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Tom Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —The CEO of Qatar Airways has described the airline industry’s emissions goals as a “PR exercise,” saying aviation is on track to miss its target to achieve net zero status in 2050. “Let us not fool ourselves,” Al Baker told CNN’s Richard Quest. Currently, SAF production is less than 0.1% of what is needed for aviation to achieve net zero. “We’re openly acknowledging that this is going to be a huge challenge,” Walsh told Quest as the IATA meeting began on Sunday. Despite his skepticism on the industry’s current emissions targets, he still believes that net zero is achievable.

Persons: Akbar Al Baker, ” Al Baker, CNN’s Richard Quest, “, Al Baker, ”, Willie Walsh, Walsh, “ We’re, ” Walsh, Quest, I’m Organizations: London CNN, Qatar Airways, CNN, International Air Transport Association, SAF

[1/2] An Air France aircraft, operated with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by TotalEnergies, is refueled before its first flight from Nice to Paris at Nice airport, France, October 1, 2021. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File PhotoISTANBUL, June 5 (Reuters) - Airlines took aim at Europe over green fuel mandates and its failures to stem France's air traffic control strikes as they weigh on carrier capacities at a global airlines meeting in Istanbul on Monday. In 2021, the body released its strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, including a progressive increase in sustainable aviation fuel use. A global approach to book and claim for SAF credits will help facilitate economies of scale in SAF production," he said. FRAGMENTATIONHowever, IATA said the EU's approach could cause more fragmentation by forcing airlines to buy SAF in Europe, ultimately hampering a harmonized global approach and sowing confusion.

Persons: Eric Gaillard, Willie Walsh, Walsh, Marie Owen Thomsen, Joanna Plucinska, David Evans Organizations: Air France, REUTERS, Airlines, EU, SAF, Air Transport Association, Officials, Chicago Convention, Activists, Thomson Locations: Nice, France, ISTANBUL, Europe, Istanbul, United States, COVID

☆ I'm a private jet broker who arranges $500,000 honeymoon flights and $60,000 pet rescues
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Dan Cook is the director of sales at Victor, a private jet charter company. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dan Cook, sales director at Victor. Elon Musk boards a private jet in Beijing. Jade Gao/Getty ImagesIn some cases, like a medical emergency, the private jet could be the difference between that person living or dying. There are clients replacing 100% of the fossil fuel with sustainable fuel.

Persons: Dan Cook, Victor, I'm, you'd, Gulfstream We've, Elon, Jade Gao, COVID Organizations: Victor, Private, Gulfstream G400, Gulfstream Locations: London, New York, Europe, Riyadh, Beijing

But some researchers and environmental groups - supported by companies claiming to be able to help solve the problem - say airlines have done too little to handle the issue. According to such experts, research shows that non-CO2 emissions can actually be more harmful than carbon emissions. New European Union rules on emissions trading that will come into force in 2025 will force airlines to track and report their non-C02 emissions. Airlines have pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, mainly by adopting Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), scarce alternative fuels made from renewable sources - like biofuels or synthetic fuels - that are used to power aircraft. Based in Cambridge, England, SATAVIA says that by focusing so heavily on carbon emissions, the industry will be paying more money for a solution that could take years to have an impact.

Persons: Roger Teoh, SATAVIA, Adam Durant, Padraic Halpin, Tim Hepher, Aurora Ellis Organizations: International Air Transport Association, Imperial College London, New, Union, Airlines, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Istanbul, Paris, contrails, Cambridge, England

☆ Private jets get a bad rap. Jetex is trying to make them greener
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Rym Bendimerad | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Because they often travel shorter distances than commercial jets, private jets are generally less efficient, and their emissions per passenger are much higher. According to data from European non-profit Transport and Environment, private jets can be five to 14 times more polluting than commercial planes, and 50 times more polluting than trains. Yet the private aviation sector has seen considerable growth in recent years. EVTOL aircraft have a more limited range than private jets, and would be used for short flights around and between cities – which, in the future, could be an eco-friendlier option for the many celebrities who’ve been criticized for traveling short distances in their private jets. “We are seeing some really exciting innovations coming from private aviation,” said Dr. Kearns.

The European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), hosted in Geneva, kicks off on Tuesday and brings together everyone from brokers, planemakers to engine producers. CO2 emissions from private jets in Europe grew by 31% between 2005 and 2019, according to environmental group Transport and Environment. Protesters are expected to gather on Tuesday outside the conference location in Geneva to highlight the rising number of private jet flights amidst a worsening global climate crisis. "The big innovations are usually deployed first in our industry," Kok said. Business jet flights have dropped in Europe by around 6% compared with the same time in 2022, WINGX data showed.

☆ Charm Industrial is getting $53 million for turning agricultural waste into oil that can be pumped underground to lock away carbon dioxide for 1 million years
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The company says the oil hardens within days and it estimates the carbon dioxide is locked away for 1 million years. That's far more than the 6,055 tons that Charm Industrial has removed to date under pilot programs. Meeting that global climate goal will likely require billions of metric tons of carbon dioxide to be removed from the atmosphere by 2050. Startups like Climeworks are using fans to suck carbon dioxide out of the sky, while others are using enhanced weathering that speeds up the natural ability of minerals to store carbon dioxide. For its part, Charm Industrial buys agricultural waste from farmers and heats it to high temperatures in a contraption called a pyrolyzer.

☆ Boeing launches data tool to chart path to net-zero emissions target
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) said on Wednesday it is rolling out a data modeling tool aimed at helping airlines and policymakers determine the quickest, most efficient path to reducing aviation emissions to zero by 2050. Boeing unveiled a beta version of Cascade in July 2022 but it was not publicly available. The public launch of Cascade comes just days after U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg met with counterparts from Canada, the United Kingdom and Singapore at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to discuss investments in sustainable aviation fuel. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that European Union countries are set to finalize SAF targets for airports despite some pushback from airlines. “Our intent is to scale SAF and help it scale by first ... examining what has to change in an airplane to be 100% compatible with (SAF),” Raymond said.

We are just starting up our expansion here in Singapore," Lehmus said. Neste produces renewable fuels, mainly from waste and residues such as used cooking oil and animal fat from food industry waste. If it goes ahead, production of the renewable fuel could start in 2026 and be primarily used in its refinery’s processes, replacing fuel produced from fossil feedstocks, the company said. "Longer term, if the availability of green hydrogen can be scaled up, it offers then the possibility to also further convert green hydrogen into fuels or chemicals," added Lehmus. The production of synthetic fuels from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide hasn't been commercialised and is costly.

[1/3] An Air France aircraft, operated with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by TotalEnergies, is refueled before its first flight from Nice to Paris at Nice airport, France, October 1, 2021. Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, is typically made using biomass-based feedstocks such as soybean oil and used cooking oil. Honeywell said its process can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 88% compared with traditional petroleum-based jet fuel. SAF is typically two to four times costlier than petroleum-based jet fuel. The United States produces around 24.7 billion gallons of petroleum-based jet fuel annually.

☆ A millionaire who says flying private is as addictive as cocaine is selling his jet after learning how terrible it is for the environment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Georgia businessman Stephen Prince loves flying his private jet to Nebraska and the Caribbean. But after realizing the environmental impact of flying private, he decided to sell his Cessna 650. The experience is so amazing, he said, that he often compares the addictive nature of private jet travel to that of cocaine. The multi-millionaire's private jet habit first started around six years ago, when he began chartering planes and soon bought a Mitsubishi MU-2 with a friend. The organization co-authored a report outlining the environmental and financial consequences of private jet travel.

☆ Why Warren Buffett is so keen on Japan's versions of Berkshire Hathaway
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Tim Hornyak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

But Warren Buffett added a spark in April when he visited Japan to announce that Berkshire Hathaway boosted its investment in Japanese trading houses to 7.4%. Buffett said the five — Itochu Corp., Marubeni Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui, and Sumitomo Corp. — are comparable to Berkshire itself. Samurai roots for Buffett's Japanese stocks The five trading firms that Berkshire has invested in are the biggest of Japan's so-called sogo-shosha, or general trading companies. Today, Japan's trading companies derive most of their revenue from non-trade activities. Shosha: The Big Five Mitsubishi The largest of Japan's trading companies is Mitsubishi Corp. , set up in 1954.

☆ Boeing has unveiled a new plane for its 'ecoDemonstrator' program — a modified 787. See all 10 of the company's testbed jets.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Boeing announced a new addition to its fleet of ecoDemonstrator aircraft on Thursday — a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. While not every experimental technology makes it onto a future Boeing jet, about a third actually have. 2014: Boeing 787Boeing 787 ecoDemonstrator. BoeingIn 2014, the planemaker debuted its second ecoDemonstrator — a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The 787 ecoDemonstrator tested 35 projects, including a collaboration with Delta Air Lines to generate real-time turbulence reports.

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File PhotoNEW YORK, May 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. government could delay a decision on giving electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers tradable credits under a renewable fuel scheme, due to concern about legal challenges to the plan, two sources familiar with the matter said. Most credits generated under the RFS are for blending liquid fuels such as ethanol made from corn into gasoline. Adding credits for power generated from renewable gas and then used for charging EVs would take the program in a new direction. The EPA initially proposed adding EVs to the program when it outlined the mandates for blending biofuels for 2023-2025. The delay in finalizing the EV credit program may mean more volume is available for other renewable fuel pools under the 2023-2025 mandate, including blending for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year recommended adding EVs to the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which incentivizes oil refiners to blend biofuels. The EPA under the Biden administration is now testing the legal limits of the liquid fuel program by extending it to EVs. The EPA has proposed granting EV manufacturers tradable credits based on the amount of renewable electricity that makes it on the grid. Renewable gas producers and EV manufacturers like Tesla have been jockeying to gain the most benefits from the new credits. The November proposal foresaw EV manufacturers could generate as many as 600 million credits in 2024 and 1.2 billion of them by 2025.

"We could add maybe 85 or 90 destinations depending on the aircraft deliveries," Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker told reporters. Airbus in March reinstated an order for 73 aircraft from Qatar Airways which it had revoked during a major legal dispute over damage to the surface of grounded A350s. Qatar Airways is also experiencing delayed delivery of Boeing 787 and 777X planes, Al Baker added. He later told reporters that Qatar Airways could pursue codeshares or exchanges of technical assistance with the new airline. High energy prices have not dented passenger demand for travel at Qatar Airways, where load factors, a measure of capacity utilisation, are in the "high 80s" Al Baker told reporters.

☆ EU agrees to decarbonize air travel with the 'world's largest green fuels mandate for aviation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

EU officials described the agreement as a "turning point" and "another important step" for European aviation, saying the measures were designed to reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports and improve energy security. European Union negotiators secured a deal to decarbonize the air travel sector, seeking to slash heat-trapping emissions by stimulating the region's green aviation fuel market. The new rules are set to require aviation fuel suppliers to supply a minimum share of sustainable aviation fuels — or SAF — at EU airports, starting at 2% of overall fuel supplied by 2025. "Fuel suppliers at EU airports must provide an increasing share of sustainable aviation fuels and aircraft operators increase their use," Frans Timmermans, executive vice-president for the European Green Deal, said in a statement. If aviation is to align itself with the Paris climate accord and curb global heating, the industry will need to move away from fossil fuels completely in the long term.

The proposal aims to increase both demand for and supply of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which have net-zero CO2 emissions or low carbon emissions. The proposal sets binding targets for aviation fuel suppliers to ensure that all fuel made available to aircraft operators at EU airports contains a minimum share of SAFs from 2025, with the target increasing to 2050. In the nearer term, sustainable fuel is one of the few options to reduce air travel's carbon footprint. Airlines are set to receive around 2 billion euros in funding from the EU carbon market to help them switch to SAF. Biofuels can count towards the main SAF targets, so long as they comply with the EU's biomass sustainability criteria.

[1/4] A view of a computer-rendered image of Climeworks' Mammoth direct air capture plant is seen in this undated handout picture obtained by Reuters, June 28, 2022. Leading the charge, the U.S. government has offered $3.5 billion in grants to build the factories that will capture and permanently store the gas - the largest such effort globally to help halt climate change through Direct Air Capture (DAC) and expanded a tax credit to $180/tonne to bolster the burgeoning technology. The sums involved dwarf funding available in other regions, such as Britain which has pledged up to 100 million pounds ($124 million) for DAC research and development. That compares with $12 billion in federal spending to drive demand for personal and commercial electric vehicles, Boston Consulting Group estimated. Occidental Petroleum has said it is well positioned for federal grants for what could be the biggest Direct Air Capture plants in the world.

Companies Shell PLC FollowSINGAPORE, March 30 (Reuters) - Shell has decided not to go ahead with two projects it was studying to produce biofuels and base oils in Singapore, a company spokesperson said on Thursday. "We can confirm that we are stopping the exploration of two projects – a biofuels unit and a Group II base oil plant in Singapore," the company told Reuters in an emailed statement. "We will continue supplying base oil and lubricants, as well as biofuels, to our customers in Singapore and the region." Shell is building a 820,000 tpy biofuels plant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and had targeted to make about 2 million tpy of SAF by 2025. Reporting by Trixie Yap and Florence Tan; Editing by Jan Harvey and Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Repsol says the plant, which transforms used cooking oil into so-called sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), has attracted plenty of customers. But it is concerned Europe's investment environment will complicate the industry's efforts to take off. "Europe needs to step up and throw its weight behind a domestic SAF industry to ensure it does not fall behind." That's a bit under 1% of global aviation fuel demand," said Jonathan Wood, Neste's vice-president of renewable aviation. "America's programme of both federal and state incentives for SAF production is the mark of global leadership on the net-zero transition," IAG told Reuters.

☆ Lots of interest in using sustainable aviation fuel in Asia, says renewable diesel firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLots of interest in using sustainable aviation fuel in Asia, says renewable diesel firmMatti Lehmus, president and CEO of Neste, cites Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and New Zealand as examples in the Asia-Pacific region.

☆ Neste CEO: Sustainable aviation fuel aids supply chain efficiency
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNeste CEO: Sustainable aviation fuel aids supply chain efficiencyMatti Lehmus, president and CEO at Neste, discusses how the company is helping to make the aviation industry more environmentally friendly.

☆ Fly less, sit in coach, and avoid gimmicky offsets. Here's how to make your next trip more sustainable, according to experts.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Airlines offer options to buy offsets and fuel surcharges to ease one's travel carbon impact. Experts say carbon offsets are good, but they need to be chosen carefully. Last year, Carbon Market Watch commissioned a study that looked at the effectiveness of carbon offsets bought by major European airlines. AirFrance, for example, has increased all its ticket prices by an amount varying from 1 Euro to 24 Euro to cover for the company's increased use of sustainable aviation fuel. Other airlines, like Brussels Airlines, are asking passengers whether they want to pay more for sustainable aviation fuel.

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