Carbon emissions released by commercial aviation today have quadrupled since the 1960s, and projections estimate this trend to continue, as global demand for air travel keeps on rising. Notwithstanding the aviation industry’s established achievements in increasing overall efficiency, it needs to find new, innovative solutions to further offset carbon emissions if it is to meet its 2050 net-zero emission target.

Promising solutions have come in the form of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) and new career roles in ‘green fuel’ and reduced emissions. Adding to this, newly-shaped government policy frameworks are underpinning these initiatives, providing support to stakeholders as well as retaining sector consistency and ensuring legal compliance. In step, SAFs and specialised roles are quickly shaping the way forward in countering the aviation industry’s environmental impact.

Why the Aviation Industry needs to Increase its Environmental Efforts

Much has been done over the years by the aviation industry to offset carbon emissions. For starters, aircraft and engine manufacturers have increased overall aircraft performance, including fuel efficiency and fleet turnover. Secondly, operational and infrastructural efficiencies from industry operators, including optimized routes and weight reduction have also played a pivotal role in reducing emissions.

Furthermore, in terms of regulation the industry has successfully transitioned from voluntary, fragmented sustainability efforts to a coordinated global framework within the last 20 years. In fact, IATA member airlines have committed themselves to achieving net-zero carbon emissions from their operations by 2050, further crystallizing the industry’s efforts towards sustainability and complete decarbonisation.

However, aviation’s carbon footprint is still growing. In 2024 alone, total industry output accounted for 803 million tonnes of carbon emissions, an 8.4% increase from 2023. As a result, the industry’s overall 2%-2.5% contribution to total global emissions is persisting.

We also face the risk of seeing these numbers grow even further as global passenger traffic is projected to increase by approximately 4.9%. Yes, sector growth is very good news, especially in view of post-pandemic financial strains on industry stakeholders – but will it come at an even heftier price for the environment?

To counter this, the aviation industry is responding with even more measures, specifically the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) and specific job positions geared to streamline sustainability efforts.

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs)

SAFs have undoubtedly taken the spotlight when it comes to emission reduction solutions within the aviation industry. Made out of non-petroleum-based materials, SAFs are biofuels made primarily from plant and animal materials, as opposed to fossil fuels. Their allure is even greater given the fact that SAF implementations require minimal-to-no modification to current aircraft or airport technology, effectively securing SAFs as a “drop-in” replacement for conventional jet fuel.

As a result, SAFs are already helping to reduce emissions. British Petroleum (BP), for instance, has already heavily invested in its own refineries and facilities, producing SAF using cooking oil and animal waste fat. Moreover, 360,000 commercial flights have already used SAF across different airports totaling to 46 primarily in the United States and Europe according to ICAO reports.

The benefits of SAFs are significant. Over their full lifecycle, SAFs can reduce emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional jet engines, including reductions across production, distribution, transportation, and combustion. In addition, SAFs are also reducing particulate emissions by up to 90% and sulfur emissions by nearly 100%, contributing to improved overall air quality, and especially around airports.

Emerging Sustainability Roles in Aviation and Emissions Reduction Solutions

Sustainability and environment-centric responsibilities have undoubtedly become part and parcel of many job positions across all industries. Within the aviation industry specifically, engineers and innovators are constantly coming up with new technological advances whilst operation managers are streamlining operative structures – all to maximize efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint.

However, the industry is now upping its game with even more specialized roles geared to increase decarbonisation efforts. Some of these new career paths are directly tied to SAFs, such as ‘Research & Development Specialists’ who work on potential new feedstocks and carbon capture mechanisms. So-called ‘SAF Fuel Systems Engineers’ or ‘Biofuel/Synthetic Fuel Technologist’ are leading the way when it comes to compatibility components related to alternative fuels. Currently, aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus and GE Aerospace are embedding sustainability within their R&D departments with roles in hydrogen propulsion, hybrid powertrains, emissions tech, and SAF-compatible engines.

Other positions deliver even more ecocentric measures across company levels, such as ‘Sustainability Managers’ and ‘Carbon Optimisation Managers’ whose responsibilities include designing and executing strategies on emission reduction. Similarly, ‘Sustainability Analysts’ and ‘ESG Reporting Leads’ are new, supplemental job positions which inherently intertwine ecological sustainability with their day-to-day responsibilities.

This trend is set to continue given the growth potential and variety of these ‘green roles’. Sustainable aviation practices and competitive pay for complex skill-sets – right now in high demand – will lead to a greener aviation sector across the board.  Indeed, the ‘green industry’ is estimated to grow to 1.5 million workers globally by 2030, according to a study by the Mowat Centre. These newly-formed positions demonstrate how sustainability is driving the creation of more aviation careers, encompassing strategy, production, engineering, data, and operations.

Policy, Investment, and Industry Support

Strong policy and financial support underpin the growth in aviation sustainability roles. In the UK, for instance, the government’s SAF mandate will see the share of sustainable aviation fuel rise from 2% in 2025 to 22% by 2040, creating long-term demand for SAF production, supply chain management, and compliance expertise. This policy not only targets reducing carbon emissions further, but it vehemently requires investment, securing ‘green’ employment generation.

Public funding is already being implemented. The UK government has committed £63 million to support clean aviation fuels, with Aviation Minister Mike Kane describing the investment as “lift off for Britain’s green aviation revolution,” aimed at creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and positioning the UK as a leader in sustainable aviation.

Industry investments are reinforcing this momentum. Airbus and its partners have co-invested around $200 million in a SAF financing fund to accelerate production of the fuel and increase its availability.

Similarly, the US enacted the The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), giving substantial tax incentives to stimulate domestic production and the use of SAFs. This act goes hand in hand with the ‘clean fuel production credit’ initiative aimed at significantly lowering lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately encouraging stakeholders to scale production and their associated workforce growth

Public and private investments, together with strong, supportive policies give confidence that sustainability-focused aviation careers are not short-term trends but part of the sector’s long-term transformation.

Looking Ahead

The concept of sustainability is being re-shaped by the aviation industry, effectively including decarbonisation efforts at even more levels of production, execution, and performance. Although current carbon emission numbers show that there is still much to be done, fuel and fleet optimisations are encouraging industry-wide adaptations that can truly offset carbon emissions.

It is also worth mentioning that aviation has consistently been at the forefront of sustainability efforts. When it adopted its global climate action goals in 2008, it was the very first industry to do so – and today we are witnessing similar pioneering initiatives.

As the industry continues to require new professionals with niche qualifications and ‘green’ expertise, whilst also adopting new technologies in sustainable aviation fuel, it not only secures an environmentally-friendly future but also maintains strong growth.

Mindaugas Rainys, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Aerviva, shares his positive outlook: “These recent developments do create new challenges for stakeholders, but it also creates new opportunities for aviation industry professionals – those who develop skills in line with sustainability today will generate greater opportunities to contribute not only to the industry’s growth, but to our planet’s future”.

Aerviva helps airline professionals and industry stakeholders stay ahead. Apart from optimizing fleet operations, navigating regulatory landscapes, and managing asset transitions, Aerviva offers a comprehensive approach that ensures our clients achieve their strategic objectives.