Seoul: South Korea has unveiled an ambitious plan to cut carbon emissions at its international airports by 10 percent by the year 2030. This initiative involves expanding the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as part of the government's blueprint for the 2026-2030 period.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the transport, environment, and industry ministries have projected that carbon emissions at South Korea's international airports will reach 29.8 million tons by 2030, marking a 28 percent increase from the 23.3 million tons recorded this year. The government is targeting a reduction of this projected amount by 2.87 million tons.

The report outlines strategies to achieve this reduction, which include the use of SAF, reducing standby time during takeoff and landing, and enhancing airport operational efficiency. In support of these efforts, international aircraft departing from South Korea will be mandated to use SAF for at least 1 percent of their fuel, with plans to increase this share to between 3 percent and 5 percent after 2030.

To address the financial implications for air carriers, given that SAF is approximately three times more expensive than conventional jet fuel, South Korea plans to devise measures to alleviate this burden. This includes partially subsidizing the associated costs.