Research and analysis

Future research and development for aviation decarbonisation

A summary of research related to decarbonising aviation with recommendations on areas industry, academia and government should prioritise for further activity.

From:
Department for Transport
Published
16 December 2025

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Future research and development for aviation decarbonisation

PDF, 3.71 MB, 161 pages

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Details

A consortium led by KPMG and including Mott MacDonald and City of London University undertook a literature review and workshops to develop a summary of recent and ongoing research related to decarbonising aviation. 

The report summarises activity identified at the time and makes recommendations to government, industry and academia on areas of potential further activity. 

The report notes the broad landscape of relevant research into aviation and the environment by industry and programmes supported by the UK research councils and government.   

The report identifies research areas of continuing importance including: 

  • the non-CO2 impacts of aviation 
  • zero-emission flight 
  • diversifying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstocks 
  • understanding consumer decision making around aviation  

It also recommends more focus on systems that show how aviation could be affected by the adoption of new individual technologies, with government playing a coordinating role. 

 The report was commissioned and funded by the Department for Transport, but the opinions expressed within the report are solely those of the authors.

Updates to this page

Published 16 December 2025

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