Planes And Pollution: Understanding The Environmental Impact

Aviation is a significant contributor to global climate change and air pollution. When jet fuel burns, it produces CO2 as well as non-CO2 emissions, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), soot, water vapour and sulfate aerosols. These emissions have a warming effect on the planet, with contrails (condensation trails) estimated to be the largest contributor to aviation-related climate change after CO2. The most effective solution to reducing the climate and health impacts of aviation would be to fly less.

Air pollution from planes is responsible for an estimated 16,000 premature deaths per year

The most effective solution to reducing both the climate and health impacts of aviation would be to fly less. Klöwer and colleagues calculated that a sustained annual decrease in air traffic by 2.5% would halt aviation’s contribution to further warming. Alternatively, a transition to a 90% carbon-neutral fuel mix by 2050 would have a similar effect.

In addition to the health impacts, aviation is also contributing significantly to global climate change. Aviation is responsible for around 3% of global emissions, and the emissions from planes stay in the upper atmosphere for a long time, having warming effects that aren't related to CO2 emissions. These warming effects contribute an additional 2x more warming, so based on current numbers, aviation is responsible for 9% of warming.

To tackle this issue, new aircraft from Boeing, Airbus, and other smaller manufacturers already meet the CO2 emission requirements, and by 2020, the average new aircraft was estimated to “outperform” the standard by approximately 10%. The EPA has also set CO2 emission standards for US aircraft under the Clean Air Act that match or exceed the ICAO requirements.

Aviation is responsible for around 3% of global emissions

The most effective solution to reducing both the climate and health impacts of aviation would be to fly less. Klöwer and colleagues calculated that a sustained annual decrease in air traffic by 2.5% would halt aviation’s contribution to further warming.

New aircraft from Boeing, Airbus, and other smaller manufacturers already meet the CO2 emission requirements, and by 2020 the average new aircraft was estimated to “outperform” the standard by approximately 10%. The EPA issued a Finding in August 2016 that aircraft GHG emissions “cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare”. This permitted the agency to set CO2 emission standards for US aircraft under the Clean Air Act that match or exceed the ICAO requirements.

However, it is important to note that the emissions from airlines are emitted directly into the upper atmosphere, which has warming effects that are not related to CO2 emissions. These warming effects contribute an additional 2x more warming, so you get 3% of the warming from CO2 emissions, plus an additional 6% of warming unrelated to CO2, which means aviation is responsible for 9% of warming, based on current numbers.

The largest contributor to aviation-related climate change is CO2

Aviation is responsible for around 3% of global emissions, with airline emissions being particularly harmful as they are emitted directly into the upper atmosphere. When jet fuel burns, it produces CO2 as well as non-CO2 emissions, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), soot, water vapour and sulfate aerosols. All of these interact with the atmosphere and have an effect on the climate in different ways and at different time scales, making them complicated to calculate. However, it is clear that CO2 emissions are a significant contributor to aviation-related climate change.

CO2 emissions from aircraft have been recognised as a danger to public health and welfare, with the EPA issuing a Finding in 2016 that permitted the agency to set CO2 emission standards for US aircraft under the Clean Air Act. These standards match or exceed the ICAO requirements, and new aircraft from manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus already meet these requirements. As airlines bring new equipment into their fleets, their overall fleet performance will improve.

In addition to CO2 emissions, condensation trails (contrails) are estimated to be the largest contributor to aviation-related climate change. Contrails are clouds of ice that form when soot from engine exhaust mixes with the cold, humid air of the atmosphere. While contrails are short-lived, they have a significant impact on the climate. Other non-CO2 emissions, such as nitrogen oxides and sulfate aerosols, also contribute to aviation-related climate change.

To reduce the climate and health impacts of aviation, the most effective solution would be to fly less. A sustained annual decrease in air traffic by 2.5% or a transition to a 90% carbon-neutral fuel mix by 2050 would halt aviation's contribution to further warming. While aviation currently accounts for 3% of global emissions, this percentage is expected to grow as air travel becomes more accessible and popular. Therefore, it is important to address the issue of aviation-related climate change and take steps to reduce emissions and mitigate the impacts on the environment.

The EPA has set CO2 emission standards for US aircraft

Aviation is a significant contributor to global climate change and air pollution. When jet fuel burns, it produces CO2 and non-CO2 emissions, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), soot, water vapour, and sulfate aerosols. These emissions interact with the atmosphere and have a warming effect on the climate.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognised the impact of aviation emissions and has taken steps to regulate them. In August 2016, the EPA issued a Finding that aircraft greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions "cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare". This allowed the EPA to set CO2 emission standards for US aircraft under the Clean Air Act.

The EPA's final rule, established on 11 January 2021, aligns with the international carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This action ensures that domestically manufactured aircraft remain competitive in the global marketplace. The EPA's standards apply to airplanes used in commercial aviation and large business jets, accounting for 10% of all US transportation GHG emissions and 3% of total US GHG emissions.

By adopting the ICAO specifications, the EPA has taken a significant step towards addressing aviation's contribution to climate change and air pollution. The EPA's standards will drive the adoption of new equipment and technology in the aviation industry, improving overall fleet performance and reducing emissions.

The warming effects of airline emissions contribute an additional 2x more warming

Aviation is responsible for around 3% of global emissions, and is a significant contributor to global climate change and air pollution. When jet fuel burns, it produces CO2 as well as non-CO2 emissions, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), soot, water vapour and sulfate aerosols. All of these interact with the atmosphere and have an effect on the climate in different ways and at different time scales, making them complicated to calculate.

Condensation trails (contrails) are estimated to be the largest contributor to aviation-related climate change after CO2, but they are short-lived. Contrails are clouds of ice that form when the soot from engine exhaust mixes with the cold, humid air of the atmosphere.

Air pollution from planes (ozone and fine particulate matter or soot) is responsible for an estimated 16,000 premature deaths per year. The most effective solution to reducing both the climate and health impacts of aviation would be to fly less.

Frequently asked questions