Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ) has low engagement with climate policy in 2022-24. A4ANZ generally supports policies incentivizing the uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) and 2050 net-zero emissions targets, alongside the Safeguard Mechanism reform with some exceptions.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: In a March 2023 Consultation Paper, A4ANZ supported Australia's 2050 net-zero emissions target and ICAO's long-term aspirational goal of net-zero emissions from global aviation by 2050. However, A4ANZ’s Roadmap for Sustainable Flying, published in 2022, appeared to use support for global GHG emissions regulations to oppose regional regulations. InfluenceMap has found no evidence of a clear position by A4ANZ on the Paris Agreement.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: A4ANZ supported the Safeguard Mechanism reform in a February 2023 consultation response. A September 2022 consultation response by A4ANZ further supported Safeguard Mechanism reform while emphasizing the need for a slower baseline decline rate to protect emissions-intensive trade-exposed facilities.
In a July 2024 Consultation Response A4ANZ supported the introduction of a SAF mandate and complementary policies incentivizing the production and uptake of SAFs in Australia alongside a book-and-claim system. It also supported the introduction of a Low Carbon Fuel Standard in that same Consultation Response but stated it would be more complex than a mandate. Similarly, A4ANZ supported policies incentivizing the production and uptake of SAF in an April 2024 Consultation Response. In a July 2024 Consultation Response, A4ANZ advocated for a harmonization of sustainability criteria for SAF globally and appeared supportive of policy measures to safeguard the impact of SAF on carbon stocks. However, in its Submission to the Aviation Green Paper in November 2023, A4ANZ supported an Australian low carbon fuel standard while appearing unsupportive of a SAF mandate, emphasizing cost concerns and asserting it should be accompanied by incentives and price support mechanisms.
Positioning on Energy Transition: A4ANZ supported a transition to sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) in 2022-24, including in a July 2024 Consultation Response where it supported a transition to Low Carbon Liquid Fuels (LCLF) alongside the development of a LCLF industry in Australia. A4ANZ also supported increased use of SAF, alongside electric and hydrogen powered aircraft in the longer-term in a November 2023 Consultation Response. A4ANZ supported increased use of SAF in Consultation Responses published in October 2023, March 2023 and February 2023.