Aviation Climate Taskforce Will Fund Decarbonization Projects

Ten major airlines are backing a not-for-profit group deploying funds to accelerate research and development projects aimed at cutting carbon emissions.

A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 is set to make the first transatlantic flight running on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel. — Virgin Atlantic, which is one of the launch backers for the new Aviation Climate Taskforce, plans to fly a Boeing 787 from London to New York in what it says will be the first transatlantic commercial flight running on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel. (Image: Virgin Atlantic Airways)

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

December 20, 2022

Ten global airlines have joined forces with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to raise funding for research and development work on technology for cutting air transport carbon emissions. The charitable non-profit Aviation Climate Taskforce (ACT), which intends to tap public, private, and philanthropic sources of capital, has been launched by the following carriers in partnership with BCG: Air Canada, Air France-KLM, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Lufthansa, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

According to chief executive Tom Light, ACT aims to build a global innovation network distributing grants to fund R&D work that might not otherwise attract venture capital funding, as well as a forum for industry collaboration to scale adoption of emissions-reduction technology. It aims to get started by issuing approximately $2 million in grants in the first half of 2023 and will also be inviting other aviation leaders from around the world to join the group, which has been launched with an undisclosed amount of private funding.

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