Europe's aviation sector hit - and may well have surpassed - a 2% mandate for green jet fuel use in 2025, a regulatory official and a source told Reuters, bolstering airlines' green credentials as the region seeks to cut reliance on hydrocarbons.
The achievement, previously unreported and due to be confirmed in a report later this year, marks a sharp turnaround from a year earlier when uptake was just 0.6%. Airlines had repeatedly warned that targets would be missed.
"We believe we will be at or even above the 2% in 2025," Florian Guillermet, Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) which monitors implementation of the targets, told Reuters in an interview in Cologne.
EASA will publish official data on last year's sustainable jet fuel (SAF) use in Europe after the summer. Jet fuel use has been thrust further into the spotlight as the Iran war lifts oil prices and disrupts supplies.
A senior European Union official, who asked not to be named, separately said the region had likely exceeded the threshold.
"We will end at above 2% in Europe for 2025. We see a clear supply response to the mandate," the person said.
The EU required 2% of fuel made available at regional airports to be SAF in 2025, rising to 6% in 2030. Synthetic SAF (eSAF) must account for 1.2% of the total from 2030, rising to 5% in 2035.
Airlines for Europe (A4E) - whose members include Ryanair, Lufthansa and British Airways-owner IAG has urged regulators to scale back the eSAF requirement, arguing that supply is limited and costs are high.
The European Commission has since said it has no intention of rolling back the eSAF mandate, though it acknowledges more must be done to make the fuel affordable and accessible.
"The mandate is a mandate, so it is in place. Personally, I don't see any reason why it should change," Guillermet said, echoing comments from the EU transport commissioner last week.
The EU official agreed: "It is very important to stick to the mandates. We have proven so far that we were right."
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The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 30 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says ongoing conflict, funding pressures and international travel restrictions are complicating efforts to contain a fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Russia and Kazakhstan signed 15 agreements during President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Astana on Thursday (28 May), including deals on Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant and expanded oil cooperation with Russia.
As climate pressures and urbanisation accelerate worldwide, governments are increasingly investing in smart cities and villages to build more sustainable and resilient communities. Across the world, digital technologies are reshaping how cities and rural areas are planned and managed.
The UK is experiencing potentially record-breaking temperatures after forecasters confirmed some areas reached highs close to 34°C on Monday.
More than 100 people were killed in a violent storm that battered India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, with rain and hail, the state Disaster Management and Relief office said on Thursday.
Climate change has driven a record surge in wildfires across Africa, Asia and other regions this year, with scientists warning that conditions are likely to worsen further as the northern hemisphere enters summer and El Niño weather patterns intensify.
Destruction of the world's tropical forests eased in 2025 from a record high, a report showed on Wednesday, underscoring how decisive policy can help keep trees standing despite pressures from a warmer climate and expanding agricultural frontiers.
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