Aviation
emissions
Aviation is
a highly energy-intensive sector. For example, a person flying from Lisbon to
New York and back generates roughly the same level of emissions as an average
EU citizen does by heating their home for a whole year.
In 2022,
aviation contributed 2% to the global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions,
experiencing a faster growth rate in recent decades compared to rail, road, or
shipping. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), with the rebound
of international travel post-COVID-19, aviation emissions for 2022 reached
almost 800 Mt of CO2. This is approximately 80% of pre-pandemic emission
levels.
The
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) forecasted that by 2050
international aviation emissions could triple compared to 2015. In 2022, direct emissions
from aviation accounted for 3.8% to 4% of total EU GHG emissions. Aviation
generates 13.9% of transport emissions, making it the second biggest source of
greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector, after road transport.
To address
this trend, various technical and operational measures - such as the use of
sustainable aviation fuels, improvements in airframes and engines, operational
optimisations, a modal shift to less emission-intensive modes, including rail,
and reducing the need for transport (e.g., through videoconferencing) - are
essential to mitigate the growth of emissions, ultimately reducing them in the
coming decade and contributing to the EU’s overall climate neutrality target.
In addition
to CO2, aircraft engines release various other gases such as nitrous oxides
(NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), water vapour, and particulate matter - including
sulphate and soot. When these emissions occur at high altitudes, they impact
the physical and chemical properties of the atmosphere. This contributes to the
greenhouse effect, the main driver of climate change. These gases can lead to
the creation of persistent contrail cirrus clouds, which also contribute to
global warming by retaining the Earth’s heat.
As confirmed
by a report from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the non-CO2
effects of aviation activities accounted for more than half (66%) of the
sector’s net climate forcing in
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