Five words on...

Sustainable aviation

From Thorsten Lange, executive VP of renewable aviation at Neste, the world’s largest producer of renewable diesel and jet fuel

Sustainable aviation

When it comes to climate change, no one has all the answers. But it’s by working together that we’ll have the best chance of making a positive difference.

We’re fortunate to be connected to some of the most brilliant people and organisations in the world. And so we’ve been speaking to a range of experts from science to business to find out how they’re going about reaching net zero.

As part of an exclusive series of interviews for The Times, we chatted with Thorsten Lange, executive vice president of renewable aviation at Finnish company Neste, the world’s largest producer of renewable diesel and jet fuel.

As a taster for the full interview, here are five things we learnt from Thorsten about the challenges of switching the world’s aviation to eco-friendly fuel…

“I would say we have to be brave, and just do it, because the danger of doing nothing is very obvious. Every year we wait goes to the balance sheet that our children must address. We do have that chance to do better, but we have to start now.”
Thorsten Lange Executive VP of renewable aviation at Neste
As mankind, we have a CO2 Budget of 300 gigatonnes and would need to reduce 40 gigatonnes every year to meet the 1,5 °C target.
Neste has helped their customers to cut their emissions by ten million tonnes in total. Even better, that figure is set to double by 2030.
The sustainable jet fuel Neste produces uses 100% waste and residues from some unusual sources. Like old cooking oil and animal fats.
There’s still a long way to go to replace all the fuel the industry consumes with sustainable alternatives. But it’s a challenge as much as it’s a business opportunity.
Good things happen when you collaborate. Together with tech partners, Neste has also been working on other pathways like lignocellulosics, municipal solid waste, and Algae to make new, even more sustainable fuels and help create a circular model.

Enjoyed this article?

You can read the full interview with Thorsten Lange in The Times.

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