Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are defined as renewable or waste-derived aviation fuels that meets sustainability criteria1. Technical analysis done at ICAO shows that SAF has the greatest potential to reduce CO2 emissions from International Aviation.
ICAO is working to facilitate SAF development and deployment through four main streams:
1) Globally-accepted environmental Standards for SAF
2) SAF goals, policies, and measures
Long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG)
The 41st ICAO Assembly adopted a long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) for international aviation of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in support of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement's temperature goal. This is a historic agreement that reinforces the leadership of ICAO on issues relating to international aviation and climate change. The adopted Resolution A41-21 is avaialble here.
The LTAG report shows that SAF has the greatest potential to reduce CO2 emissions from International Aviation.
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SAF Trends - The possible contribution of SAF to the ICAO environmental goals is also being assessed by CAEP as part of the ICAO Global Environmental Trends.
3) Capacity Building and Assistance to ICAO Member States
ACT-SAF - ICAO Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels
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4) Outreach of information and best practices

| SAF rules of thumb - what does it take to produce SAF? "Rules of Thumb" developed by CAEP experts can be utilized to make order of magnitude estimations related to SAF costs, investment needs and production potential.
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| This guidance summarizes potential policies and coordinated approaches for the deployment of SAF, completing a toolbox of guidance material for use by ICAO Member States together with the ICAO SAF Rules of Thumb. |
 | ICAO is periodically reviewing the progress on SAF development and deployment through a Stocktaking Process, including the organization of regular seminars.
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 | As part of the ICAO-UNDP-GEF assistance project "Transforming the Global Aviation Sector: Emissions Reductions from International Aviation", a "Sustainable Aviation Fuels Guide" was developed to inform ICAO Member States on how sustainable aviation fuels can be deployed to reduce CO2 emissions from international aviation activities. The guide describes fuel production pathways, usage constraints, environmental and other benefits, and policy perspectives on the use and development of SAF.
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| ICAO GFAAF The ICAO Global Framework for Aviation and Alternative Fuels (GFAAF) is the online database for sharing information related to sustainable aviation fuels. It contains links to hundreds news articles dating back to 2005, details of past and ongoing initiatives, facts and figures, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to additional resources. It also includes a live feed of flights using sustainable aviation fuels.
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