Recommendation on Sustainable Aviation Fuels at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

The Brazilian Government welcomes with great satisfaction the technical recommendation on sustainable aviation fuels put forth during the 13th triennial meeting of the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Scheduled to be submitted for confirmation by the ICAO Council in June, this recommendation addresses the concept of multiple or sequential cropping for the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). This practice, which involves cultivating two or more harvests per year on the same land, is common in tropical and subtropical regions.

Grounded in technical, scientific, and environmental considerations, CAEP’s recommendation will allow ICAO methodologies to account for the specific realities of tropical and subtropical regions. This has long been a priority for Brazil and other countries seeking to contribute to the decarbonization of the aviation sector.

By recognizing a broader range of sustainable practices and feedstocks as eligible for large-scale SAF production, ICAO is acting in line with its mandate under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to promote emissions reductions in international aviation. Although current global SAF production levels remain low, such fuels are crucial for helping international aviation—today a major emitter of greenhouse gases—achieve the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Recognizing sequential cropping further enables developing countries to participate in the energy transition in a fair and inclusive manner, sustainably generating jobs and income for their populations.