Industry coalition urges EU to double down on zero-carbon aviation and shipping
A coalition of ten companies and industry associations has called on the European Commission and the upcoming Danish EU Council Presidency to prioritise zero-carbon aviation and shipping in the forthcoming Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP).
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STIP, the EU’s new framework for directing investment into transport decarbonisation and resilience, is expected to guide funding across all transport modes in the coming decade.
The joint letter, coordinated by the SASHA Coalition (Skies and Seas Hydrogen-fuels Accelerator), urges policymakers to close the investment gap for hydrogen, electric, fuel-cell, and wind-propelled transport.
Signatories include Ecojet, ZeroAvia, ZULU Associates, MONTE, Hybrid Air Vehicles, LH2 Shipping, Condor, Beyond Aero, and the Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs) — together representing more than 60 innovators across maritime and aviation. They warn that Europe risks losing technological leadership unless STIP explicitly designates zero-carbon aircraft and vessels as strategic investment priorities and sends clear market signals to investors.
Ecojet CEO and co-founder Brent Smith said, “If we’re serious about economic growth and the environment, zero-emission flight and shipping must be central to the Clean Industrial Deal. With clear certification, infrastructure and offtake pathways, investors will have the confidence to scale.”
The group’s proposals include:
Classifying zero-carbon aircraft and vessels as priority technologies
Setting mandatory 2040 targets for inter-EU routes
Earmarking renewable hydrogen through a dedicated Hydrogen Bank budget
Creating regional testbeds for “green” public-service routes
Mandating hydrogen and electric infrastructure at ports and airports under AFIR
Aurelia Leeuw, Director of EU Policy at the SASHA Coalition, said STIP is a critical chance to rebalance policy in favour of emerging zero-emission technologies. “The lowest-emission solutions in aviation and shipping have so far been the most overlooked,” she said. “A coherent framework with strong incentives and robust R&D support is essential to move from pilots to full commercial deployment.”