Accelerating the transition to climate-neutral aviation.
The resource to climate comparison evaluator — RECCE
Aviation Impact Accelerator
Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA) is a global initiative led by the Whittle Laboratory and the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). Its work focuses on mapping credible pathways towards climate-neutral aviation through rigorous system-level modelling.
The AIA ambition is to influence global policy, engage industry and accelerate transition.
The strategic challenge
AIA had developed one of the most comprehensive models for evaluating alternative aviation fuels across lifecycle emissions, resource requirements and cost implications. However, to influence decision-makers beyond academia, the model needed to become public and interactive.
This marked a critical shift. Complex, interdependent scientific datasets had to be presented in a format usable by policymakers, industry leaders and non-technical stakeholders without compromising methodological integrity.
Shaping the architecture
We structured the tool around comparative pathways allowing users to evaluate alternative fuels against a fossil-fuel baseline for 2035, explore where emissions occur, and assess resource and cost implications within a single integrated interface.
Our work spanned information architecture, interaction logic, UX and visual system design in a structured interface capable of communicating advanced modelling without distortion.
A purposeful visual hierarchy was introduced to reduce cognitive load while maintaining transparency. We crafted the interface to be intuitive enough for global engagement yet rigorous enough to withstand policy scrutiny.
From complex climate modelling to policy-facing digital intelligence
RECCE was launched at the Aerospace Global Forum (AGF), where leaders from across the aviation ecosystem convened to accelerate action towards sustainable aviation. The event opened with a video address from King Charles III, within the broader Sustainable Markets Initiative context.
The tool extended AIA’s reach beyond academic circles, providing policymakers and industry leaders with a clear, structured way to interrogate complex modelling. It reframed advanced research into actionable insight, enabling more informed dialogue across government, academia and the aviation sector.