The challenge
Aviation accounts for 3.5% of (CO2 +non-CO2) emissions related to global warming and may account for 4-5% by 2030. Different to most other industries, aviation is, therefore, despite net-zero industry commitments by 2050 still at risk of growing emissions in the short-term rather than reducing them to the required levels. At high altitude, those emissions cause more harm than ground transport emissions and that aviation is a hard to abate industry complicates matters. While possible in Europe, no flying is no real option either in Australia for both passenger and freight air transport.
Is reaching net-zero carbon emissions from aviation by 2050 achievable in the Australian context? Given the long lead times in aircraft development and scalability issues regarding SAF/hydrogen, is it even possible globally? If not, what can we do to help, such as through behavioral change and innovations? The aim is this pillar is to establish Deeply embedded Industry-Government-Academic partnerships with the objective to work interdisciplinary to develop impactful research, practical solutions and policy advise.
Decarbonising Aviation Demand – Novel ideas and solutions
- Fleet renewal, AI, SAF, electrification and hydrogen
- Behavioural change and consumer preferences
- Logistics and sustainable supply chains behind alternative fuels
- Drones/eVTOL strategy/Policy/pricing vs. legislation + incentives vs. subsidies
Funding opportunities
Possible funding mechanisms including applications for centre, or like, multi-million dollar grants.
External partners and competition
Qantas, Airbus, ARC, CRC opportunities.
Short- and medium-term goals and KPIs
Short term: get the group and website up and running and organise a first brainstorming workshop.
Medium-term: joint grant applications within the team and with external partners, joint position papers and journal publications.