Sustainable aviation fuels are the most promising technology available to replace fossil kerosene, but experts warn they can’t be produced quickly enough or in large enough volumes to keep pace with projected traffic growth
BackCan green fuels clean up aviation? Scientists say the math doesn’t add up
abatify summary
Ecosystem Impact
The inability to scale sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) necessitates a continued reliance on fossil kerosene, prolonging high-altitude emissions and contrail formation; additionally, potential over-reliance on bio-based feedstocks risks land-use competition, which can drive deforestation and diminish natural carbon sinks.
Systemic Reality
The supply-demand gap signals a failure in current aviation decarbonization pathways, likely forcing a policy shift from technological 'silver bullets' toward demand-side management, carbon pricing, and a re-evaluation of aviation’s financial growth projections within a net-zero framework.
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