Scientists warn guilt-free flying remains out of reach in the UK

‘We need consistency, and we need to apply this globally, because adopting any of these new technologies will create demands and pressures for land, renewable energy or other products that may have knock on environmental or economic effects.’

Looking at four replacement options – hydrogen, biofuels, synthetic fuels, and ammonia – the study concluded that none could do so in the short-term.

To produce enough biofuel (which is made from crops), half of the UK’s agricultural areas would need to be used, which would put pressure on food supplies country-wide.

Additionally, making sufficient hydrogen or ammonia would require well over double Britain’s entire renewable electricity generation capacity and synthetic fuels (which are made by capturing and converting CO2 from the air) would require five to eight times today’s UK capacity.

The Royal Society said the findings underscored the challenges of decarbonising aviation, and that a significant amount of work on how such fuels are stored and handled is essential for future efforts, as well as their actual environmental impacts in production and when used in flight.

‘There is no magic bullet, but by modernising airspace to make flying more efficient, by introducing new zero emission technology like hydrogen aircraft and by upscaling the use of sustainable aviation fuels this decade, it can be achieved,’ said a spokesperson for the industry in response.

‘The sector is working closely with the government to maximise both the environmental and huge economic opportunities from leading the jet zero transition.’

All hope isn’t lost, however, because the Royal Society argues that a long-term solution will probably be developed, but that it will require planes and airports to be redesigned.

It’s calling for a more thorough investigation into the problem, suggesting that the UK could become a world leader in this sphere if it invested in solving it.