Delivering Sustainable Fuels

Sustainable fuels – including liquid biofuels, biogases, low-emissions hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels – offer multiple benefits for the energy sector. They complement electrification and energy efficiency in energy transitions, and are particularly important for sectors that continue to be reliant on fuel-based solutions such as aviation, shipping, and parts of road transport and industry. Sustainable fuels can also enhance energy security, strengthen environmental sustainability and stimulate economic development, particularly in rural areas.

If fully legislated and implemented, current and proposed national and international policies would put the use of sustainable liquid and gaseous fuels on a path to nearly double from 2024 levels by 2030 and quadruple by 2035. Progress must occur on multiple fronts to increase uptake and foster a large and diverse set of sustainable fuel pathways. This calls for a shared global vision for sustainable fuels, along with targeted policies to bridge costs gaps with conventional fuels, innovation to expand production potential, robust and mutually agreed carbon accounting methodologies to ensure that sustainability criteria are met, long-term investment in infrastructure, and more accessible financing, especially in emerging and developing economies.

This report was prepared in support of Brazil’s COP30 Presidency and its Climate Action Agenda. It presents a sectoral analysis of global pathways for accelerating the deployment of sustainable liquid and gaseous fuels to 2035. It also summarises cumulative policy experience to date, identifies key technology and infrastructure requirements for scaling up deployment, and highlights resulting benefits that extend well beyond emissions reductions. Finally, the report outlines priority policy actions for governments seeking to adopt sustainable fuels to achieve measurable emissions reductions, strengthen domestic energy security and foster new opportunities for economic development.