Korea plans to reduce carbon emissions from its international airports by 10 percent by 2030 while increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel, according to a government report released on Sunday, reports The Korea Times.
The plan, covering the 2026–2030 period, has been prepared jointly by the transport, environment and industry ministries. It estimates that carbon emissions from international airports could rise to 29.8 million tonnes by 2030, an increase of 28 percent from the 23.3 million tonnes recorded this year.
The government aims to cut this projected figure by 10 percent, or about 2.87 million tonnes, through a series of measures.
According to the report, the reduction will be achieved by expanding the use of sustainable aviation fuel, reducing aircraft standby time during take-off and landing, and improving overall efficiency in airport operations.
As part of the plan, international flights departing from Korea will be required to use sustainable aviation fuel for at least 1 percent of their total fuel use. This requirement will be increased to between 3 percent and 5 percent after 2030.
The government also plans to introduce measures to ease the financial burden on airlines, as sustainable aviation fuel currently costs about three times more than conventional jet fuel. These steps are expected to include partial financial support to help cover the additional costs.
