THE African Civil Aviation Commission (Afcac) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) are joining forces to help member states develop policies for environmentally sustainable aviation, with significant backing from the European Union (EU).
At a meeting in Harare this week, the organisations focused on creating regulatory frameworks to decarbonise the continent's aviation sector.
The initiative supports the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (Icao) long-term goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) highlighted as a critical solution.
To support this vision, Comesa and the EU signed an €8 million grant agreement. The funding will bolster the air transport sector in Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and the Indian Ocean regions.
Speaking on the programme, Comesa director of infrastructure and logistics, Bernard Dzawanda, said the programme seeks to achieve three key objectives which include operationalising the Single African Air Transport Market programme, streamlining air transport operations across the region to promote economic integration and growth.
“The Strengthening Regulatory Capacity programme is enhancing the capacity of civil aviation institutions in the regions to regulate and oversee air transport services effectively and improve Air Navigation Efficiency. The programme is upgrading air navigation systems and infrastructure to increase efficiency, safety and reduce costs,” he said.
Dzawanda expressed gratitude to the EU for extending the Satsd programme for an additional two years, bringing its total duration to six years.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) director-general, George Mashababe, emphasised Zimbabwe's commitment through its National Development Strategy (NDS).
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He stated that sustainable aviation fuel presents one of the most promising solutions of decarbonising the aviation sector beyond its role in our national aviation agenda.
“It serves as a key global mitigation measure necessary for achieving the Icao long-term aspirational goal of net zero by 2050,” he said.
“The government of Zimbabwe has made clear its unwavering commitment to the development and deployment of SAF. This commitment is firmly anchored on our NDS 1 to 2... as evidenced by our state action plan on the reduction of carbon emissions from international aviation, the 2023 feasibility study on the development and deployment of SAF in Zimbabwe, and the ongoing business implementation study.”
Caaz is finalising the drafting of Annex 16 regulations and integrating Sustainable Aviation Fuel into the national biofuels policy. The outcomes of the Harare meeting are expected to shape a regional roadmap and define Africa's contribution to the global aviation sustainability agenda.
