Videoconference, 9 March 2023 — The first ECAC Guidance on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), published on 24 February 2023, was presented to over 100 participants from ECAC Member States and European organisations at the third ECAC workshop on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) organised within the framework of the ECAC Capacity-Building Programme for Environment.
Opening the event, ECAC Focal Point for Environment, Rannia Leontaridi, Director General for Civil Aviation of the United Kingdom, highlighted that Europe is a global frontrunner in policy action to promote SAF. She said that the experience gained through pioneering initiatives is a key asset to support others, both in Europe and beyond. In that context, the ECAC SAF guidance, following its adoption by all ECAC Directors General, was an important milestone to promote sustainable fuels.
Inmaculada Gómez (Spain), ECAC co-rapporteur of the European Aviation and Environment Working Group (Expanded) Sustainable Aviation Fuels Task Group, introduced the content of the guidance. The introduction was followed by an overview by Daniel Rivas (EASA) of what sustainable aviation fuels are, and why they are needed. The ECAC Secretariat explained how this new guidance material will provide a basis for further ECAC capacity-building support to its Member States.
The guidance draws not only on policy initiatives in Europe, but also on work developed by others. This issue was addressed in a panel dedicated to examining recommendations for creating national SAF strategies. Ingrid Cherfils (Swedish Transport Agency and former ECAC President) talked about the International Transport Forum’s work in 2022. Blandine Ferrier (ICAO EUR/NAT Office) referred to the ICAO Guidance on SAF Policies issued in June 2022, while Adrienne Gibbs (World Economic Forum) presented work developed by Clean Skies for Tomorrow, including its SAF Policy Toolkit issued in late 2021.
Sabine Cayre and Adelina Atanasova (EUROCONTROL) presented the European SAF map, developed in cooperation with ECAC, which offers an overview of the SAF landscape in Europe. Several representatives of European States provided a brief update on their respective national SAF policies. The workshop also featured policy case studies from Henry Witt (United Kingdom Department for Transport) and Magnus Gislev (DG MOVE, European Commission) on respectively: updates on the United Kingdom SAF policy portfolio and the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation proposal.