Original version

BBC World Service South Asia

The Climate Question

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Why we find it so hard to save our own planet, and how we might change that.

No Master Brand

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC Afghan Radio

The Climate Question: Will 'sustainable' fuels transform air travel?

Magazines & Reviews

07/01/2024 GMT

Will 'sustainable' fuels transform air travel?

BBC World Service - The Climate Question, Will 'sustainable' fuels transform air travel?

Airlines want to power flights with a new generation of non fossil fuels. Will that work?

The air industry's plan to reach net zero by 2050 rests on using new "sustainable" fuels such as plants or used cooking oil. Will it work?

The future of flying might depend on used cooking oil, plants and green electricity. Sustainable aviation fuels, known as SAF, are made from less carbon-intensive processes and renewable sources. Airlines are touting them as the key to decarbonising flying. 

The aviation industry has pledged to move from 2.5% of all global CO2 emissions to net zero by 2050 – with these alternative fuels being the cornerstone of the strategy. However, there’s little SAF actually being produced, it, and it’s much more expensive than fossil fuels. Can the technologies really take off?

Climate Question host Graihagh Jackson investigates, with reporting from the BBC's Monica Miller in Malaysia and Singapore.

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson
Producer: Osman Iqbal
Researcher: Octavia Woodward
Editor: Simon Watts
Sound engineer: Tom Brignell

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Climate Question

Will 'sustainable' fuels transform air travel?

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service