Press release: Green hydrogen should be prioritised in industries where it’s most needed, says new airline and shipping coalition

(24 May, 2023) The new Skies and Seas Hydrogen-fuels Accelerator (SASHA) Coalition is bringing together leaders from across shipping and aviation to send a clear demand signal that green hydrogen and direct air capture (DAC) are integral to decarbonisation pathways in these sectors.

Green hydrogen and carbon dioxide from DAC will play a crucial role in achieving global decarbonisation goals. However, their limited supplies must be targeted towards the industries that do not have faster, more efficient routes to decarbonisation. Currently, EU and UK policy does not do enough to ensure the supply of green hydrogen and DAC will be available for the aviation and shipping sectors.

Tomorrow (24 May) on a webinar, the SASHA Coalition will be launched with exclusive research from Arup showing that the best way to decarbonise shipping and aviation is by using green hydrogen and carbon dioxide from DAC and that these will be needed to produce sustainable fuels in these sectors. The problem is that green hydrogen and carbon dioxide from DAC will remain in limited supply due to factors like cost and inefficiency, meaning that their use should be targeted towards sectors that have no more efficient alternatives

Despite this, they’re being referenced in policies for use in a wide range of sectors, such as the UK Government's Net Zero Strategy and the EU’s REPowerEU policy. However, regulations that encourage the use of these fuels in sectors that do not require it will only cause a delay in tackling the climate crisis. The SASHA Coalition will address this gap in policy coherence and put the case forward to policymakers that the use of green hydrogen and DAC should be prioritised in the sectors where it is needed most, including shipping and aviation.

The new coalition has been set up by climate change NGO Opportunity Green and is being officially launched by Lord Deben, Chair of the UK's independent Committee on Climate Change, at a virtual event taking place on 24 May.

The SASHA Coalition will help to facilitate policy discussions and provide members with the knowledge, tools, assets and materials they need to make an impact. Ensuring green hydrogen and DAC goes to those sectors that need it most will reduce the cost and increase the speed of the transition to a zero carbon world.

Aoife O’Leary, CEO of Opportunity Green and director of the SASHA Coalition, says:

“Individual airlines and shipping companies are calling for green hydrogen in their sectors, but their voices are not loud enough on their own. These industries need to form one powerful, unified voice on this issue so they have greater influence over policy.”

“Achieving a just transition to a net zero future in the aviation and shipping sectors is an ambitious goal, but it is possible with the right collaboration between industry leaders and decision makers. I’m pleased to see shipping companies and airlines increasing their efforts to transition to sustainable fuels. This is a key driver in their journey towards net zero, and it will also provide a wealth of co-benefit opportunities, such as cleaner air around port and airport communities, skilled job creation, and decentralised green fuel production.”

Sally Prickett, Director of Hydrogen, CCUS and New Fuels in Arup’s Advisory team says:

“A secure supply of green hydrogen is going to be crucial to produce sustainable aviation and shipping fuels, and our research for the SASHA Coalition found that a number of likely decarbonisation pathways for these industries involve green hydrogen. We also found that many other sectors are looking towards green hydrogen as a solution for decarbonisation. It is important for shipping and aviation companies to be clear about the share they need, and we’re pleased to support the SASHA Coalition in providing the necessary research and data to develop their case.”

Notes to editors

In 2018 international aviation accounted for at least 3.5% of global anthropogenic climate warming, while shipping emitted around 3% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gases. However, the climate impact of these sectors could grow significantly if action is not taken – with shipping potentially rising to up to 13% of global emissions by 2050, and if unmitigated, aviation rising to 22%

The webinar, Fuelling the Future: how green hydrogen and direct air capture will decarbonise aviation and shipping, takes place on 24 May, 2023 – 2-3pm BST. It will include a keynote address from Lord Deben, Chair of the UK Climate Change Committee, a presentation from Sally Prickett, Director of Hydrogen, CCUS and New Fuels in Arup’s Advisory team and an industry panel featuring Luisa Puccio, Director of Shipping and Trade Policy at the European Community Shipowners’ Association and Laurent Donceel, Managing Director Airlines for Europe. We welcome journalists to attend – if you would like to join us, please register here.

The SASHA Coalition is facilitated by Opportunity Green and Funded by the European Climate Foundation. The initiative will create clear and strong messaging around the vital role of green hydrogen and DAC in the decarbonisation of the aviation and shipping sectors, and facilitate discussions between EU- and UK-based policymakers and key industry leaders. 

Opportunity Green is an NGO working to unlock the opportunities from tackling climate change using law, economics, and policy. It does this by building ambitious coalitions, supporting climate vulnerable countries, and finding innovative legal pathways for bold climate action, with particular emphasis on the aviation and shipping industries.

Media contacts

Hannah Jolliffe

Communications Manager, Opportunity Green
hannah@opportunitygreen.org

Aoife O’Leary
CEO, Opportunity Green
aoife@opportunitygreen.org