“A Basket of Measures": Why Airlines Need Multi-Pronged Decarbonisation Strategies
ICAO member states in concord on emissions (get it?)
Earlier this month, the The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly unilaterally endorsed the ICAO Global Framework for SAF, LCAF and other Aviation Cleaner Energies for the first time. This, in their own words, delivers a “clear mandate for transformation of aviation” where “a basket of measures” is required to achieve the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Image: In case you didn’t get the concord/Concorde joke
What’s in the basket?
The ICAO has previously outlined its “Long-Term Aspirational Goal” (LTAG) of net-zero by 2050, but this uniform endorsement of the Framework also includes an aspirational “Vision” for a measurable impact of 5% CO2 reductions by 2030. This begs the question: what’s in the basket?
The framework is built around four interconnected “building blocks”: policy & planning, regulatory frameworks, implementation support, and financing. Crucially, it emphasises that cleaner energy in aviation does not simply mean new fuels - it includes technology innovations and operational improvements as viable, necessary pathways.
By any measure, the cornerstone of decarbonisation is Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). SAFs are intended to be compatible with existing aircraft and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 70-80% compared to using traditional jet fuel. However, the scaling challenge is enormous: the current production and feedstock pipelines will take years - and potentially trillions of dollars - to reach the magnitude needed. With SAF use currently making up 0.1-0.2% of all jet fuel use, the bulk of emissions reduction necessary will have to come from other sources to achieve the 2030 5% target. But where?
Drag reduction: A cleaner energy path that is ready today
Because ICAO’s climate resolution achieved full consensus across all States, there is now clear global legitimacy for non-fuel measures that reduce emissions. Efficiency technologies are explicitly called out as part of the solution, and MicroTau’s Riblet Modification Package sits squarely within this definition. Similar to SAF, this product is designed to be compatible with existing aircraft: it requires no structural changes but no new fuels. Critically, this product is capable of net efficiency gains of up to 4% for existing fleets - this is a lever that airlines can pull today and achieve the bulk of the 2030 5% emissions reduction target near-immediately.
Frictionless Innovation
The unanimous agreement at ICAO reinforces the message that decarbonising aviation isn’t a matter of “either/or.” It’s both/and.
SAF and other fuel-pathways will carry the long-term weight to 2050
Operational improvements (routing, ground operations, scheduling) will extract continual gains
Efficiency technologies like MicroTau’s Riblet Modification Package reduce the baseline - making all other measures more effective
Image: It’s no Concorde, but it’s flying more efficiently thanks to an installation of MicroTau’s Riblet Modification Package
Interested in exploring how your airline can leverage MicroTau’s Riblet Modification Package in alignment with ICAO’s global strategy? Contact us.
