- IATA will host the World Sustainability Symposium in Hong Kong (Oct. 21–22, 2025) to advance aviation’s net-zero 2050 goal.
- The event will promote SAF scale-up, funding, and global collaboration, with production efforts led by Asia-Pacific and China.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will lead a global drive for greener aviation at its two-day World Sustainability Symposium (WSS) in Hong Kong on October 21–22, 2025, the group said Tuesday, August 26.
IATA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist, Marie Thomsen, said the meeting would bring together “thinkers, doers, and regulators” to shape practical steps toward cutting carbon emissions and meeting the industry’s net-zero target by 2050.
“The WSS is a forum for new ideas and fresh collaboration,” Thomsen said. “If we want to succeed, we need radical collaboration across governments, industries, and institutions.”
The symposium comes between the recently concluded 42nd ICAO Assembly and the COP30 climate summit, giving it added weight in global climate talks.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) will take centre stage at the event, which Thomsen described as “the fuel that will do the heavy lifting” in reaching net-zero goals. Several Asia-Pacific countries, including India, Malaysia, and Vietnam, are seen as well-positioned to expand SAF production. At the same time, China has extended its pilot program and is developing more than three million tonnes of capacity.
Thomsen warned, however, that scaling up SAF and green technologies demands heavy investment. “There is plenty of money in the market,” she said. “But while oil returns about 20%, renewable energy gives around five per cent. To close that gap, we need the right government policies and incentives.”
She also raised concerns about fragmentation in global climate regulation. “We can’t afford CORSIA, which has global support, to fall apart. If each state sets up its own system, we risk fragmentation, which is incompatible with international aviation.”
To support the industry’s transition, IATA has introduced tools such as the SAF Matchmaker, a SAF Registry, and the Aviation Carbon Exchange for airlines to purchase carbon credits. Thomsen urged governments and industries to align strategies, scale funding, and cooperate across borders.
“Reaching net-zero by 2050 will take more than ambition; it will take aligned strategies, serious investment, and real cooperation,” she said.