Committee on Climate Change

In January 2009 the Government adopted a target to reduce UK aviation emissions back to 2005 levels in 2050 alongside its decision to support expansion of Heathrow airport. Together with deep cuts in other sectors, this would achieve the UK’s legislated economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) target to reduce emissions by 80% in 2050 relative to 1990 without the need to rely on purchase of credits in the global carbon market.

The Committee was requested by the Government “to assess scope for [emissions] reductions, including from improvements in technology and the effect of appropriate policy levers; and the implications of further aviation expansion beyond 2020”.

This report sets out the Committee’s  assessment of options for reducing UK aviation emissions up to 2050.

The Government published a response to this report on 25 August 2011.

Meeting the UK Aviation target – options for reducing emissions to 2050 - December 2009

• Full Report (9MB.pdf)
• Executive Summary (1.5MB.pdf)
• Press Release (0.2MB.pdf)
• Presentation (2.5MB.pdf)

Download individual chapters of the report:

• Chapter 1: Background and methodology for the review of UK aviation emissions
• Chapter 2: Reference demand and emissions projections
• Chapter 3: Alternatives to air travel – high-speed rail and videoconferencing
• Chapter 4: Fleet efficiency improvement through technology innovation
• Chapter 5: Use of biofuels and other alternative energy sources in aviation
• Chapter 6: Non-CO2 climate effects of aviation
• Chapter 7: Meeting the 2050 target

Sustainability
Limited numbers of the CCC's full report were printed. The report was printed using waterless printing, 100% renewable energy and vegetable oil based inks on paper with 100% recycled content, FSC, EMAS and ISO 14001 certified.