The Challenge of Aviation Sustainability
The aviation industry faces one of its greatest challenges: achieving sustainability in a world that urgently demands the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Although the sector accounts for around 3% of global emissions, its symbolic status as a heavy consumer of fossil fuels places it under social, political, and regulatory scrutiny.
The Role of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
In this context, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) stands out as the most viable tool for aviation to reduce its carbon footprint in the coming decades, while electric and hydrogen technologies are still in their infancy.
Mexico’s Initiative Towards SAF
Although more advanced plans exist in some economies, Mexico’s experience is relevant as it has proposed a national roadmap to establish the foundations of a SAF industry capable of meeting international commitments and maintaining the country’s aviation sector’s competitiveness.
Mexico has progressed in building this strategy through the organization of technical meetings led by Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) and the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), involving key actors such as the Ministry of Energy, the Environmental Protection Secretariat, Pemex, and the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change, along with airlines, international organizations, and the sugar industry.
The Complexity of the Challenge
This multisectorial exercise reflects the challenge’s complexity: airline commitment alone is insufficient; clear policy frameworks, economic incentives, and financing mechanisms are essential to make SAF production and commercialization viable.
The issue is not merely an environmentalist discourse but a technical and economic viability question to sustain an industry inherently dependent on global integration and uniform international rules.
Linking Sustainability with International Goals
The commitment to sustainable aviation aligns with the objectives of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. For Mexico, participating in this agenda means not only fulfilling an international obligation but also safeguarding the competitiveness of its air connectivity.
An aviation sector failing to adapt to emission reduction requirements risks being marginalized in markets that will start demanding proof of sustainable fuel use or climate commitment compliance.
The Main Challenge: Cost and Availability
The primary challenge remains the availability of raw materials and production costs. SAF is currently more expensive than conventional jet fuel, and its scalability depends on establishing secure, diversified, and sustainable supply chains.
Mexico has potential advantages in this area: availability of agricultural raw materials, forest residues, energy crops, and even innovative alternatives like sargassum seaweed exploitation, despite limited prospects in this regard.
Translating these possibilities into concrete projects requires political will, corporate collaboration, and a long-term vision that extends beyond six-year political cycles.
Next Steps for Mexico
Mexico’s national roadmap represents a significant step, but it must translate into tangible results. Ensuring the sustainability of aviation transportation is crucial for maintaining aviation as a development driver.
