Airports outline three pillars for EU Sustainable Transport Investment Plan
The European Commission is bound to release this autumn its proposal to support the EU’s transport sector by scaling up and prioritising investments into its decarbonisation – the so-called Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP). The Plan was first announced in the Mission Letter of Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Sustainable Transport and Tourism), and later reiterated upon the publication of the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal – a set of proposals designed to align the bloc’s competitiveness ambitions with its far-reaching green agenda, in which aviation was largely overlooked.
The STIP will focus primarily on outlining short- and medium-term measures to prioritise support to specific renewable and low-carbon fuels for aviation and maritime sectors, as well as accelerating the rollout of recharging infrastructure – a key point of interest for EU airports. The Plan’s key importance lays in boosting the production and uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) across the bloc. As per the updated DESTINATION 2050 roadmap, SAF represents the largest potential contributor to CO2 reduction by 2050, with 56% of reductions derived from its use. +
ACI EUROPE has elaborated a set of strategic recommendations to ensure the STIP meets its objectives and reinforces Europe’s position as a global leader in aviation.
- Ensure dedicated funding for Sustainable Aviation Fuel production and infrastructure
There is a crucial need for dedicated EU funding for SAF production and supply, including specific allocations for infrastructure, as well as a growing need for a share of ETS revenues to be earmarked for decarbonisation, particularly in aviation. To accelerate progress, the EU should also implement private investment incentives, increase SAF allowances under ETS, unlock industrial investment tools through entities like the EIB, and boost Clean Aviation funding for next-generation technologies and fuels.
For full access to the recommendations, including further insight into their implementation, see here.
