Jet Zero Council: AEF open letter

16th June, 2020

In a surprise announcement at Friday’s government Covid-19 daily briefing, Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, revealed plans for a ‘jet zero’ council, that will include representatives from the aviation industry, Government and environmental groups. Its goal, he said, would be to make zero emissions transatlantic flight possible within a generation. No further details were made avaliable.

AEF has written an open letter to the Transport Secretary arguing that for the ‘jet zero’ council to be a worthwhile initiative the Government must ensure that it does not simply provide good PR for airlines and airports about a future aspiration while allowing emissions from the existing fleet to grow unhindered. The initiative must, the letter says, be part of a wider programme of government action to deliver the UK’s climate commitments, and the council must operate in a transparent manner including engaging with environmental organisations and all relevant stakeholders.

To read the letter in full, click here.