Sustainability is a huge concern amidst the ongoing climate crisis, as it should be. One of the major factors that worsen climate change is the aviation industry. The jet fuel used by aircraft is extremely bad for the environment. Yet, billionaires and millionaires regularly use private jets releasing immense amounts of carbon emissions. Airlines are now in a race to switch to Sustainable Aviation Fuel or SAF, which is a more climate-friendly option. However, SAF is significantly more expensive.
Climate-Friendly Fuel More Expensive; May Lead To Hiked Ticket Prices
Multiple countries have taken the initiative of net zero emissions by 2050 as the threat of climate crisis is increasing. In order to achieve this, airlines are now looking for more climate-friendly fuel options. Their best bet is SAF which is made by mixing conventional jet fuel with items like used cooking oil as well as plant waste.
However, SAF is just 0.1 per cent of all jet fuel, according to an article recently published by Hindustan Times. The article also mentions that suppliers of this fuel will be able to set their own prices, and in order to ensure profits, it might trickle down to ticket prices, as per Molly Wilkinson who is the vice president of American Airlines.
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Why SAF Is The Best Alternative?
You might wonder what other alternatives other than SAF are available. There are many who are working on fully electric flights but many experts believe that they are not as practicable as electric vehicles.
A climate economist called Gernot Wagner from Columbia University, in the HT article, talks about how it is easier to build heavy batteries into the mechanism of a vehicle if there is no need for it to take off the ground.
Hence, electric aircraft might be a bit less practical and the SAF is the best alternative that the Aviation industry has. As per the article, two out of the three per cent of the greenhouse gasses emitted are due to aviation.
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Do you think this move is efficient and will help in the long run? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons