Healing hands for a bright environmental future is evident in recent times in the transport sector. Given the amount of emission in the road transport, railways and in the aviation sector, it is a break or make moment to save our planet. While the road transport sector contributes 14% to global Carbon emission, the aviation sector stands for 1.04 billion Tones which forms 2.8% of Carbon emission. Sustainable aviation fuel seems the only alternative at the time of climate emergency to bend the emission cure to a desirable result. The WHO emphasizes the quality of air at the cost of everything for the well-functioning of the ecosystems. Thus, for a sustainable future sustainable aviation fuel is non-negotiable.
The latest breaking news from Singapore mandating sustainable aviation fuel for departing flights from 2026 even at the cost of a sharp rise in the ticket prices captures the global attention. The country sets ambitious goals in a move that aims at progressively decarbonizing airline operations by 1% uplift in the fuel by 2026 onwards, attaining 2-3% by 2030. As announced by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat at the Changi Aviation Summit on the 19th of February the country expresses its quest to be eco-friendly.
Sustainable aviation fuel is an alternative to normal aviation fuel used by most flights globally. This biofuel, generated through eco-waste made from renewable sources like agricultural waste, algae, or plant oils, reduces the carbon footprint of aviation by curtailing larger emission of greenhouse gases. The multiple ways of reduction in carbon emissions are achieved using renewable sources which are lower in carbon content. Compatibility in using this fuel without many alterations to the engines of the current traditional jets makes it convenient for the aviation sector.
Singapore is a hotspot in introducing alternate oils for the transport sector across the global level. The country is a global hub for energy transport thus, decisions taken here affect various sectors in South Asia and the countries at large. Singapore takes revolutionary steps in sustainable transport through energy availability, renewable energy potential, and political constraints. The world economy is closely connected to the steps taken as a trade and economy hub in Singapore.
The adaptation from traditional jet fuel to sustainable aviation fuel will ultimately witness the price rise in the air tickets, mainly involving the economy of booking, the duration of travel from Singapore. Enormous investments have been planned in this line and by 2050, the target of the country to complete sustainable aviation fuel, thus the total expenditure is expected to rise from 2026 gradually.
The chief challenge observed in the move towards economic sustainability is in Economy. The short-term implementation of sustainable aviation fuel is debated by various economists across the world and is unlikely to reduce the carbon footprint in recent years due to the amount of expenditure, while there also various proponents for such an alternative in the long term. The initial phase of this project shows a sudden change in the graph depicting serious economic changes.
Sustainable fuel: A green age of aviation
Written By: William Santosh| Edited By: Nandni Ranpara
