RAF integrating sustainability into all decision-making at all levels

Defence is responsible for half of central Government estate emissions and the RAF is responsible for approximately 40% of Defence Carbon emissions. Since last year thirty Air Forces have now signed the Global Air Forces Climate Change Collaboration.
The RAF completed a pioneering Guinness World Record with the first flight of a fully synthetically fuelled aircraft, opening the way to the potential for zero carbon aviation and reducing our dependence on limited fossil fuel and SAF supplies. Called “Project Martin,” the short microlight flight was a collaboration with an industry partner.
In Spring 2022, the RAF successfully flew a four-metre drone with synthetic aviation fuel, enhancing their ground-breaking work.
On 16 November 2022, following a year-long technical partnership between the RAF, Defence Equipment & Support, Industry Partners, an RAF Voyager flew from RAF Brize Norton on 100% SAF. This was the first time any military in-service wide body aircraft had flown on completely 100% sustainable aviation fuel. Using leftover fuel, the Voyager conducted an air-to-air refuelling of a Typhoon and C-130 Hercules. The fuel was re-manufactured in accordance with aviation fuel specifications.  
On 17 April 2023, a second RAF Voyager was powered by a SAF blend, provided in collaboration with International Airlines Group and BP. This provided a further air-to-air refuelling sortie over the North Sea supplying close to 50% SAF blend to other RAF aircraft. This flight marked the launch of a new, updated aviation sector Decarbonisation Roadmap by UK industry coalition Sustainable Aviation, that reaffirms the sector’s commitment to reach Net Zero carbon by 2050.  
The UK’s proactive approach to incorporate SAF into routine use is also helping to guide other NATO and global Air Forces that are yet to clear aircraft up to 50% SAF blend. This is important to ensure interoperability between nations and simplify the logistics chain so that multiple specifications are not required in the future to meet different national standards.
This is a key element of operational resilience and support advantage, so the data and experiences gathered during these trials will be shared with other military Air Forces. SAF will become part of the global aviation sector fuel mix, and thus, its use will become standard wherever Air Forces operate globally.
The RAF is also planning to investigate sustainable aviation opportunities with our helicopters and uncrewed air systems, and where emerging new civil sustainable aviation technologies, such as electric/hydrogen Vertical Take-Off and Landing and airships might play a part in the medium to longer term.
We have several novel solar power projects underway, most notably at RAF Wittering. We are investigating the potential for geothermal and wind technology that does not interfere with our radars, lightweight solar panels for building roofs, and the longer-term potential of transitioning to biogas and hydrogen as UK civil networks decarbonise our national gas networks.
There are numerous projects exploiting synthetic training using XR, AR and VR to deliver an immersive training experience. With an increase of virtual training to complement face-to-face elements, the movement of personnel across the UK has been significantly reduced.
Ultimately, we are now integrating sustainability into all our decision-making at all levels, from the main operating bases to the front line. Discussions are starting to understand the impact of, and opportunities from, a growing military use of the space domain.
We need to embed climate change and sustainability considerations in all MoD processes from Strategic Defence Reviews, through Defence and Command planning, to new systems requirement setting, new building designs, whole life costings, and decision-making to engrain climate change and sustainability into Defence’s DNA. This is starting to happen, but we have some years to go until it is truly business as usual, but only applied where climate change and sustainability equals or enhances military delivery and operational advantage and effect.