New research commissioned by the UK division of non-governmental organisation World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has revealed that airlines do not need to use any measures with poor performance on emissions or risks to sustainable development.

In order to meet their climate targets, international non-governmental organisation World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is urging airlines to commit to high-quality carbon credits and sustainable alternative fuels.

WWF-UK has found that there could be enough sustainable bio-fuel and high-quality credits for airlines to satisfy up to 73% of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) higher demand forecast for emissions reductions or 100% of its lower demand forecast.

Any kind of deficit in emissions reductions could be achieved either through greater action on efficiency or from carbon project types where certification is necessary to ensure that the promised emissions reductions are achieved, and/or any sustainable development risks are avoided.

"As the world unites to fight climate change, the aviation industry has a responsibility to contribute its fair share of the effort."

WWF is also urging ICAO to strongly take up the issue of market-based measures (MBM) in the latter’s assembly resolution to be held later this year.

The MBM is expected to start in 2020.

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The organisation has asked that MBM will only recognise carbon credits and alternative fuels that achieve real emissions reductions and promote sustainable development, as well as to finalise detailed sustainability rules at the earliest.

WWF noted that carbon credits and alternative fuels should both reduce emissions and support sustainable development.

WWF-UK CEO David Nussbaum said: "As the world unites to fight climate change, the aviation industry has a responsibility to contribute its fair share of the effort.

"To future-proof themselves and safeguard their brand reputation, airlines should commit to using only high-quality carbon credits and sustainable alternative fuels, that avoid damaging side effects on emissions or sustainable development.

"ICAO must make it clear that carbon projects in the fossil fuel sector and conventional crop-based biofuels are not the answer, and should finalise binding sustainability criteria for both credits and fuels as soon as possible after the 2016 Assembly."

Projects such as biogas carbon that turns organic waste into green gas for heating and cooking, and waste-based bio fuel that avoid negative land use impacts could be used for the purpose.

However, some carbon projects such as conventional crop-based bio-fuels that are damaging land use impacts on emissions, habitats and food security, have failed to achieve the emissions reductions they promise and can pose risks to sustainable development.

WWF also noted that last year’s Paris Agreement did not clearly mention about aviation, but emissions in the sector are rising fast and must be reduced to keep global warming.