Our key asks for the next UK government
The next five years will be crucial in driving forward UK climate action. As shipping and aviation are two of the most emission-intensive industries, the new government must focus on decarbonising these sectors for the UK economy to reach net zero by 2050. Here, we lay out the key things our next UK government needs to put on its to do list from day one in office.
The incoming government needs to put green hydrogen on its list from day one
Together, the shipping and aviation sectors account for 10% of UK greenhouse gas emissions. And yet, neither sector has a realistic and robust decarbonisation strategy in place to reduce this figure at the pace needed.
The UK's Clean Maritime Plan hasn't been updated since 2019, and research from Transport and Environment stating that pollution from UK-departing planes almost reached pre-pandemic levels last year suggests that the Jet Zero Strategy commitment to never exceed 2019 aviation emissions might already have been missed.
Green hydrogen – and, where needed, carbon dioxide from direct air capture (DAC) – will be key to turning round the decarbonisation trajectories of these industries. As our Green Hydrogen Gap research shows, green hydrogen will be needed (to a greater or lesser extent) to produce all of the fuels that could replace fossil fuels for aviation and shipping.
So what does the next government have to do to unlock the green hydrogen opportunity for shipping and aviation? Here are our key asks…
Shipping
Set UK shipping decarbonisation policy on a clear and ambitious trajectory through publishing an updated Clean Maritime Plan.
Any legitimate Clean Maritime Plan must include ambitious overall and interim targets for UK shipping emissions.
Modelled on the UK Government's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate and European Commission's FuelEU Maritime regulation, commit to introducing an alternative maritime fuels mandate that will require a minimum uptake of green hydrogen-derived e-fuels from 2030.
There is an opportunity for the UK to capture first mover advantage in the development of green hydrogen-derived fuels for shipping. To support this, the next government should mirror what has been achieved in the aviation sector by committing to – and consulting on how best to implement – a revenue certainty mechanism for the production of e-fuels for shipping.
Include both domestic and crucially, international, shipping in the UK Emissions Trading System.
Extend the North Sea and English Channel Emissions Control Area to cover all UK waters to reduce sulphur and nitrous oxide.
Aviation
Take forward plans to implement an industry-funded revenue certainty mechanism to support the production of green hydrogen-derived e-fuels in the UK.
Implement more ambitious sub-mandates for the uptake of e-fuels within the SAF mandate. This should be carefully considered and communicated to investors and producers: making regulatory changes too frequently will not be conducive to creating a secure environment for investors.
Provide regulatory support for the roll-out of green hydrogen powered aircraft in the UK, in turn supporting UK-based zero emission aircraft developers such as SASHA Members Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and ZeroAvia.
Include international aviation in the UK ETS beginning 2027, in line with EU plans to do the same.
Green hydrogen and direct air capture
Work with stakeholders across the Department for Transport, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and other relevant departments to ensure that there is cross-governmental alignment on the development and deployment of green hydrogen and DAC technologies for shipping and aviation's decarbonisation.
Hydrogen strategies must recognise that green hydrogen has a unique, long-term role to play in decarbonising hard-to-electrify sectors, such as shipping and aviation, that have no other routes to decarbonise.
The new government should publish a clear hierarchy of use for green hydrogen, making clear that green hydrogen should only be used in these sectors that don’t have alternatives. Regulations should reflect this, and ensure it is not taken forward as a major decarbonisation strategy for those sectors that do not have alternatives.
If aviation and shipping are to have access to the quantities of green hydrogen and carbon dioxide from DAC that they will require, policymakers need to send a clear and unambiguous demand signal to promote investment in these fuels.
The SASHA Coalition will continue to work closely with industry and policymakers at relevant government departments to ensure these key asks are clearly communicated and understood. To learn more about the SASHA Coalition subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.
