India and EU differ on ICAO’s green fuel framework

India and EU differ on ICAO’s green fuel framework

Subject :International relations

Section: International organisation

Context:: International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is developing a global framework to mandate the use of green fuel in international flights.

Key Points:

• ICAO is in the process of drafting a global framework that proposes quantifiable targets for adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and lays down pathways to promote its use. The move follows ICAO’s adoption of long term aspirational goal of net zero carbon emission by 2050.
• The global framework that is now under consideration is expected to come up for approval at a high level civil aviation ministerial conference in Dubai in November.
• According to a draft proposal, the global framework will comprise four building blocks:
  • policy and planning,
  • regulatory mechanism,
  • implementation support and
  • financing for development and deployment of SAF.
• While Europe is in favour of an ambitious policy, India and a few other countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia are questioning the idea of quantifiable targets without corresponding access to funds and technology to produce SAF.
• In India the government has considered one per cent blending of SAF with jet fuel by 2025.
• But currently SAF production in India is in planning stages only. The government is worried that any ambitious target laid down by ICAO could thus hurt our carriers and lead to an increase in costs and airfares.
• SAF is a waste-derived aviation fuel made from various sources such as used cooking oil, agricultural waste, fats or non-food crops. It can be blended with conventional jet fuel to reduce carbon emissions.