Sustainable Aviation, the UK aviation industry coalition, has announced a commitment of more than $2.5 million (£2 million) in Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) credits. The move is designed to accelerate the early-stage development of this emerging market.
A modern aircraft being refueled with sustainable aviation fuel at Heathrow Airport, supporting aviation’s path to net zero. AI generated picture.
The announcement was made at the Sustainable Skies World Summit, where Sustainable Aviation also launched an Advanced Market Signal—a mechanism aimed at stimulating the growth and scaling of GGR solutions. The coalition brings together UK airlines, airports, aerospace manufacturers, fuel producers, and partners, all working towards net-zero carbon aviation by 2050.
Duncan McCourt, Chief Executive of Sustainable Aviation, commented, ‘Scaling Greenhouse Gas Removals is essential for hard-to-abate sectors, and this Advanced Market Signal is the aviation industry acting now to help stimulate the growth of the GGR sector.’
Contributing members behind the Advanced Market Signal include Airbus, British Airways, London Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, London Luton Airport, Manchester Airports Group, and NATS.
Read more: Indonesia takes first steps towards the blue carbon market
The commitment reflects a broader recognition that reducing emissions alone will not be sufficient for aviation to reach sector-level net-zero targets. Industry experts project that by 2050, the UK aviation sector will require between 20 and 30 million tonnes of GGR per year to address residual emissions. To meet this need, the sector will rely on a combination of approaches, including airspace modernisation, next-generation aircraft, zero-carbon flight technology, hydrogen, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Sustainable Aviation has also signalled its intent to address non-CO2 environmental impacts, such as contrails and nitrogen oxides. Its published position paper outlines a roadmap that includes real-time CO2 emissions sensors on aircraft, prioritisation of SAF on long-haul routes, optimised flight paths, and closer collaboration with the scientific community.
McCourt added, ‘We have also made clear today that the aviation industry supports action to address the non-CO2 impact of aviation. By accelerating research, trials, and collaboration, we can deliver practical solutions that reduce aviation's full climate impact.’
Read more: Indigenous and local knowledge in carbon projects: why it defines credit quality
Green Earth is an end-to-end developer of large-scale nature-based carbon projects, accredited by leading third-party standards. As the aviation sector moves to scale Greenhouse Gas Removal solutions and signal long-term demand, the need for high-quality, verified carbon credits becomes more pressing. Our work spans ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, and community development across the globe—giving businesses a credible, transparent route to compensate for hard-to-abate emissions within their value chains. For organisations navigating the path to net zero, now is the time to act.
