All the Nordic countries have set themselves ambitious targets for cutting their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Consequently, the Nordic Council Committee for Growth and Development in the Nordic Region believes that there is a basis for establishing fossil-free transport solutions and thus a fossil-free aviation market by 2040. The goal of a five-percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend ratio is a start.
The Nordic Council and the Nordic Region have the vision of becoming Europe’s greenest and most competitive region by 2030. But in order to achieve this, no stone must be left unturned. One measure could be to invest in higher blend ratios of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in aviation fuel.
However, this requires investments in infrastructure and distribution between the countries in order to reduce the overall cost of SAF. The Nordic Region can create a shared market for such innovation.
This is the basis for why the Nordic Council Committee for Growth and Development in the Nordic Region is now proposing to demand that all aviation fuel in the Nordic market contains a five percent SAF blend.
The Committee’s proposal states that since there are many cross-border routes in the Nordic Region, a joint plan for a fossil-free aviation market is important. Such a plan also improves the feasibility and thus the possibility of a breakthrough.
By improving mobility and putting in place a requirement for a five-percent biofuel ratio in aviation fuel, we create a win-win situation for passengers, businesses, and the climate. We also contribute to the Nordic synergy and put the whole region on the map,” said Pyry Niemi, Chair of the Nordic Council Committee for Growth and Development in the Nordic Region.
The agreed proposal has been merged with two earlier proposals from the Centre Group and the Conservative Group, both of which had the goal of reducing CO2 emissions from the aviation sector.
The proposal was adopted with a reservation from Nordic Freedom, which felt that the proposal was not financially viable. Finland’s representative in Nordic Freedom, Lulu Ranne, said that her party group could not support the proposal, which was nevertheless accepted by the majority of the committee.
The proposal will be subject to final consideration during the Session of the Nordic Council in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 1-4, 2021.
