Biden administration targets 20% drop in aviation emissions

[NEW YORK] US President Joe Biden's adminstration on Thursday unveiled measures that aim to reduce aviation emissions by 20 per cent by 2030 in its latest initiative to combat climate change.

Aviation accounts for 11 per cent of US transportation-related emissions and addressing this pollution source is "essential if we hope to put the aviation industry, and the economy, on track to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050," the White House said in a statement.

Like petrol, traditional jet fuel is a petroleum-based energy source that is processed from crude at oil refineries.

The White House measures include a proposed tax credit on fuels that achieve at least a 50 per cent drop in "lifecycle" emissions, according to the fact sheet.

The administration also highlighted some US$4.3 billion in funding aimed at new fuel development as well as a sustainable fuel "grand challenge" to boost its use by 2030.

The aviation announcement comes on the heels of earlier Biden administration initiatives to address climate change, including ambitious targets for increasing solar as a US power source and boosting sales of electric cars.

AFP