Net zero aviation and shipping

Environmental Audit Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 20 Jul 2021 Closed: 13 Mar 2025 Parliament page
Aviation and shipping pose major challenges to reducing emissions. Together they account for 10% of UK greenhouse gas emissions and on current trends, aviation will be the largest emitting sector by 2050. The Government has set ambitious targets to reach net zero emissions by 2050 for the UK’s share of … Read more
32 Recommendations
38 Conclusions
2 Reports
5 Oral sessions
3 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
13 Mar
2025
Correspondence
13 Feb
2025
Report published
13 Feb
2025
Correspondence
29 May
2024
Report published
3 Apr
2024
Report published
21 Dec
2023
Report published
9 Jun
2022
Correspondence
18 May
2022
Oral evidence
18 May
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
30 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
30 Mar
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
26 Jan
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
18 May 2022
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Panel 1; Panel 3
Eamonn Beirne · Department for Transport Emma Gilthorpe · Jet Zero Council Holly Greig · Department for Transport Lee Rowley · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Paul Griffiths · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Robert Courts · Department for Transport Sophie Lane · Aerospace Technology Institute
30 Mar 2022
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Andy Cornell · Renewable Transport Fuel Association David Morgan · easyJet Dr Neville Hargreaves · Velocys Helena Bennett · Green Alliance Hemant Mistry · International Air Transport Association Jonathon Counsell · International Airlines Group Mr Jonathan Hinkles · Loganair Paddy Lowe · Zero Petroleum
26 Jan 2022
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Alex Clark · Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, University of Oxford Dr Tristan Smith · UCL Energy Institute Guy Platten · International Chamber of Shipping Katharine Palmer · Lloyd's Register Michael Parker · Citi Mike McCartain · Associated British Ports
1 Dec 2021
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Glenn Llewellyn · Airbus Hannah Tew · Connected Places Catapult Leo Murray · Possible Matt Gorman · Heathrow Airport Tim Johnson · Aviation Environment Federation Val Miftakhov · ZeroAvia
27 Oct 2021
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Anna Ziou · UK Chamber of Shipping Chris Young · Rolls-Royce Dr Andy Jefferson · Sustainable Aviation Dr Chika Miyoshi · Cranfield University Sarah Kenny · Maritime UK Simon Bullock · Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Manchester
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Net zero and UK shipping HC 509 29 May 2024 33 Responded
Third Report - Net zero and the UK aviation sector HC 404 21 Dec 2023 37 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
3 Conclusion Acknowledged
Third Report - Net zero and the UK…
Inclusion of international aviation emissions in Sixth Carbon Budget sends positive signal
The Government’s decision to include international aviation emissions in the UK’s budgets with effect from the Sixth Carbon Budget has sent a very positive signal about the UK’s resolve to address carbon emissions from UK aviation by the use of … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation, acknowledges the complexity and varying models for aviation emissions, and states that DfT is continually improving its modelling capability and will consider new evidence as part of monitoring the Jet Zero Strategy.
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14 Conclusion Acknowledged
Third Report - Net zero and the UK…
Government initiatives to establish domestic SAF industry and mandate are welcomed and monitored.
We welcome the initiatives taken by the Government to date to establish a domestic industry for the manufacture of sustainable aviation fuels, and the steps it is taking to build long-term supply chains for domestic and international aviation. We note … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the committee's observation and states that while its Jet Zero Strategy focuses on new fuels and technology without limiting growth, it will consider further measures if the sector does not meet emissions reduction targets.
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20 Conclusion Acknowledged
Third Report - Net zero and the UK…
Zero-emission flight shows promising long-term potential for eliminating aviation carbon emissions.
Zero-emission flight represents a very promising long-term prospect for achieving reductions in the CO2 emissions from UK aviation. Unlike the use of SAF, zero- emission flight technologies hold out the promise of eliminating the carbon emissions entailed in aircraft movements. … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's observation by detailing its significant financial support for the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme, which funds the development of new and zero-carbon emission aircraft technology.
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29 Conclusion Acknowledged
Third Report - Net zero and the UK…
Jet Zero Strategy prioritises aviation growth over demand management, exceeding CCC recommendations.
We note that UK Ministers have so far ruled out the inclusion of active demand management measures in the Jet Zero Strategy in preference for a policy which promotes the growth of the airline industry following the pandemic. This is … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the committee's observation about its preference for growth over demand management in the Jet Zero Strategy, stating its focus is on new fuels and technology to achieve net zero, but will consider further measures if emissions targets are not met.
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36 Recommendation Acknowledged
Third Report - Net zero and the UK…
Aviation sector must actively engage in review of emissions reduction shortfalls.
The review should be undertaken with the active engagement of the UK aviation sector, which is principally responsible for delivering the reductions in emissions it has claimed are possible: any shortfalls in delivery ought to be reviewed and urgently remedied. Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation and outlines its commitment to a data-led approach, including annual monitoring of the Jet Zero Strategy from 2025, major reviews every five years, and the development of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework.
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1 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Net zero and UK s…
We welcome the International Maritime Organization’s adoption in 2023 of a revised Greenhouse Gas Strategy...
We welcome the International Maritime Organization’s adoption in 2023 of a revised Greenhouse Gas Strategy and the clearer signals it provides to IMO States and the shipping industry on the pathway to achieving net zero ambitions from shipping by 2050. Read more
Government Response
The government welcomes the IMO's 2023 Revised GHG Strategy and commits to working towards the highest possible ambition as part of the next review in 2028.
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16 Recommendation Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Net zero and UK s…
Develop strategy and delivery plan for zero-emission marine fuel manufacturing facilities in UK clusters.
As part of the updated Clean Maritime Plan the Government must develop a strategy to support the development in UK maritime clusters of facilities for the manufacture of zero-emission marine fuels. This strategy must be supported by a delivery plan … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation, stating that the manufacture of zero-emission marine fuels is a complex issue with unfully understood competitiveness. They highlight existing support for low-carbon hydrogen projects and maritime clusters, and innovation funding through the £206m UK SHORE programme.
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20 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Net zero and UK s…
UK's 'soft power' via English law and Hydrographic Office aids global shipping decarbonisation.
The UK’s influence in international shipping is considerable and extends beyond its prominent position at the IMO. The basis of the majority of international shipping contracts is English law. The UK Hydrographic Office provides unrivalled resources to support vessels in … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the observation, recognising the UK's leading role in shipping law and hydrography. It states it is considering how to reflect and build on these strengths while developing a maritime decarbonisation strategy.
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21 Recommendation Acknowledged
Seventh Report - Net zero and UK s…
Commission workstream to optimise international shipping efficiency through UK Hydrographic Office expertise.
We recommend that, as part of the refreshed Clean Maritime Plan, Ministers commission a workstream to examine how the efficiency of international shipping operations can be further optimised by the appropriate development of the expertise in the UK Hydrographic Office. Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation, stating it will engage with UK stakeholders, including the UKHO and other expertise centers, as part of its work on energy efficiency, rather than commissioning a specific new workstream.
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Government Response AI assessment · 66 of 32 classified
Accepted 29
Accepted in Part 11
Acknowledged 9
Deferred 16
Rejected 1
Total 32 recs + 38 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
13 Mar 2025 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Transport relating to the Government's Response to the Seventh Report from the Environmental Audit Committee of Session 2023–24, on Net zero and UK shipping, dated 3 March 2025
Parliament page
13 Feb 2025 To committee Letter from the Chair of the Committee to the Secretary of State for Transport, relating to the Government's Response to the Seventh Report from the Environmental Audit Committee of Session 2023–24, on Net zero and UK shipping, dated 12 February 2025
Parliament page
9 Jun 2022 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security), Department for Transport, relating to the impact on aviation emissions in relation to the changes to rates for Air Passenger Duty banding, dated 27 May 2022
Parliament page