Global Aviation Sustainability Outlook 2025

Non-sustainability risks and trends3 Geopolitical and economic factors continue to affect whether and how aviation executives prioritize decarbonization, with a number of active geopolitical and trade challenges as of 2025. The World Economic Forum’s survey of aviation executives also asked respondents to rank wider risks, beyond immediate aviation-specific sustainability concerns, that are affecting progress on decarbonizing the sector. Challenges identified include risks arising from policy and geopolitics, economics, technology and social issues (see Figure 11). Top-10 wider risks affecting aviation decarbonization progress FIGURE 11 Geopolitics 1 Bankability and attractiveness of the aviation sector for investors2 Economic downturn and inflation3 Change in governments4 Competing priorities (e.g. climate resilience, growth, revenue)5 Labour shortage and skills (e.g. engineering, procurement & construction for SAF plants)6 Just transition and involvement of Global South7 Inequality8 Interstate armed conflict (including airspace closures due to conflict)9 Conventional aircraft manufacturing and production slowdown 10 Technology Policy and geopolitics Economic Social Source: World Economic Forum industry survey. Global Aviation Sustainability Outlook 202528