Investing in Aviation's Climate Transition: A Due Diligence Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuels
The aviation sector faces mounting pressure to reduce its climate impact, yet pathways to a credible transition remain complex. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is expected to play a central role in the near term, but SAF pathways (HEFA, AtJ, BtL, e-SAF) differ significantly in maturity, cost, scalability and integrity profiles, making robust due diligence essential to identify most credible and promising opportunities.
To support better-informed capital allocation decisions, Environmental Defense Fund and Systemiq are launching a new investor due diligence guide: Aviation's Climate Transition - An Investor Due Diligence Guide to SAF Opportunities, Risks & Integrity.
This event, organised by Environmental Defense Fund and Systemiq, will bring together investors, airlines, SAF developers, policymakers and NGOs to discuss how to identify credible investment opportunities and how capital can support both near-term SAF deployment and higher-integrity pathways needed for the long-term aviation transition.
The event will present the guide's practical framework for assessing SAF opportunities through three lenses - eligibility, bankability and integrity – and across both project-level and issuer/portfolio-level capital providers.
A panel of experts will discuss how to identify credible projects and transition strategies, how policy developments are shaping investment opportunities, and what evidence investors should seek when evaluating SAF projects, companies and transition plans.The discussion will also explore the role of finance in supporting both commercially available SAF pathways and emerging solutions that are critical for achieving aviation's long-term climate goals.
This is an official side event of PRI in Person 2026, taking place from 13 – 15 October in Amsterdam. PRI in Person will bring together over 1,500+ leaders and practitioners across the global investment community, the conference will feature expert-led debates and peer discussion on strategic issues shaping responsible investment. PRI in Person catalyses connections, providing a unique space for investors to engage with each other, share ideas, and work together on innovative solutions. To learn more and register, visit the conference website.