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Science Weekly

Is guilt-free flying on the horizon?

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.21K Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2024

⏱️ 19 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In November, a plane powered by 100% ‘sustainable’ jet fuel took off from London to New York. It was hailed by some as a milestone in reducing the carbon footprint of air travel, which accounts for about 2.5% of global CO2 emissions. Could this be the start of a greener way to fly? Madeleine Finlay speaks to Guy Gratton, associate professor of aviation and the environment at Cranfield University, to find out if the future of aviation can ever truly be guilt-free.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is the Guardian.

0:09.0

Well, if you're not this wall through, you could open plan the living area.

0:12.0

So I'm thinking burnt oka paired with some terracotta times.

0:15.2

Very in season right now.

0:16.5

When it comes to making big decisions for how we improve our homes, we rely on the advice of experts.

0:21.5

So shouldn't it be the same for the way we heat and power them at

0:24.4

EDF waste specialists in low-carbon technology for homes? We've installed thousands of air source

0:29.2

heat pumps, solar panels and batteries across the country and we also have useful content to help you make

0:34.1

the right decision for your home. Search edf energy.com slash energy specialist to find out more. One Tuesday in late November, 2023, a plane took off from London and landed in New York.

0:51.0

Nothing unusual there except this plane was different. It was the first

0:59.3

to make the journey using 100% so-called sustainable aviation fuel or SAFE. UK Prime Minister

1:08.9

Rishi Sunak was quick to herald the flight as the first step towards the government's target of aviation

1:15.4

becoming net zero by 2050.

1:18.6

Not only will Saf be key in decarbonising aviation, but it could create a UK industry with an annual turnover of almost

1:25.8

two and a half billion pounds which could support over 5,000 UK jobs.

1:31.7

Solutions are badly needed. Aviation is responsible for between 2.5 to 7% of

1:38.6

global CO2 emissions. But is SAF really the answer? What else is in the pipeline? And are these technologies

1:47.5

just a distraction from a simpler solution? That frequent flyers just need to fly less.

1:55.0

From the Guardian I'm Madeline Finley and this is Science Weekly.

2:14.1

Dr Guy Grattan, you're an associate professor of aviation and the environment at Cranfield University. So you've explored all the different ways that aviation

2:17.3

could reduce its contribution to the climate crisis.

2:20.5

And at the end of last year Virgin Atlantic with support from the UK government

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