AlternativeAviationFuels Position 2022

the growing impact of flights on the global climate crisis and human health. Credit: Stay-Grounded.org What are alternative and “sustainable” aviation fuels (AAFs and SAFs)? We use the term AAFs for a class of replacement jet fuels that are derived from non-petroleum sources. AAFs can be made from plant-based feedstocks (such as purpose-grown crops like oil seeds and corn), forest and agricultural crop residues, used cooking oil, biomass, and municipal solid waste2. Most are mixed with conventional aviation fuels in blends that can range from 10% to 50% AAF. Currently, AAFs make up far less than 1% of the aviation fuel used to move people and cargo3. Why is the aviation industry pushing hard for AAFs? Industries and governments around the world are committing to dramatic reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions. However, the aviation industry has not followed suit. Under pressure to meet climate targets, the aviation industry hopes that promoting AAFs will make us think they are doing what they need to do, when in fact they are planning for rapid growth4. Changing the fuels while increasing the volume of flights will not decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. The aviation industry promotes AAF as “sustainable” aviation fuels or SAF. This is an advertising tactic called “Greenwashing” that diverts attention from more effective and equitable solutions like electrification and green hydrogen. Do AAFs help reduce GHG and prevent global warming? AAFs can have lower lifecycle emissions, but AAFs do NOT reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) or carbon…

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Call to order – Roll Call – Quorum Established – Land Acknowledgement We would like to acknowledge that our Agency operates in four present-day counties, which are the traditional lands of the Coast Salish people, past and present. This acknowledgement does not take the place of authentic relationships with indigenous communities in our jurisdiction and [...]