Aviation, like many other industries, has an impact on the environment. The aviation industry takes its responsibility towards the environment seriously and is working to minimise its impact as much as possible whilst continuing to deliver an essential travel mode to millions of people across the globe.

Aviation CO2 Emissions

Air transport’s contribution to climate change is small. CO2 produced by aviation represents 1.5% of the European Union’s total CO2 emissions. Road transport is responsible for 53% of total EU CO2 emissions and commercial and residential fuel burn 39% of that total.1

Source: European Pollutant Release & Transfer Register, data for 2003

Total global CO2 emissions by all modes of transport combined represents 20% of the global total with road transport generating 80% of all transport emissions and air transport just 12%.2   CO2 emissions from energy generation for lighting is 3 times greater than the CO2 emissions from aviation.3

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Aviation Noise

Aircraft entering today’s fleets are 20 decibels quieter than comparable aircraft 40 years ago. A further 50% reduction in noise during takeoff and landing is expected by 2020.4

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Benefits of Aviation/Social & Economic Impact of Aviation

The removal of air transport would have an immense impact on the global economy. “Aviation’s global economic impact is estimated at US$2,960 billion, equivalent to 8% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product.” 4 The air transport industry generates a total of 29 million jobs globally (through direct, indirect, induced and catalytic impacts including tourism). Globally, 25% of all companies’ sales are dependent on air transport. Air transport may provide the only transportation means in remote areas and facilitates the delivery of emergency and humanitarian aid relief across the world.4 Air transport pays for its own infrastructure costs unlike other modes of transport, which receive substantial government subsidies paid for by the taxpayer.

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Air transport is reducing its impact on the environment responsibly

There is continued investment in new technology. New aircraft entering airline fleets are 70% more fuel-efficient than they were 40 years ago.4  Fuel efficiency has improved 20% in the last decade. A typical ERA member turboprop aircraft consumes an average of 3.1 litres per 100 passenger kilometres and a typical ERA member turbofan aircraft consumes an average of 4.4 litres per 100 passenger kilometres.5  Future air traffic management enhancements have the potential to reduce fuel burn by 6-12%4  Carbon monoxide emissions have been reduced by 50% in the past 40 years. Research programmes aim to achieve a further 50% fuel saving and an 80% reduction in oxides of nitrogen by 2020.4

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What is ERA doing?

ERA is striving to find a balance between minimising aviation’s environmental impact and its contribution to social and economic development. ERA has joined with other aviation associations to form a joint policy aimed at reducing the impact of aviation on the environment. This policy and other information on emissions trading can be found by clicking here  ERA Chairs the Council for Environmentally Friendly Aviation or CEFA. CEFA is made up of industry associations and works to coordinate industry policy as well as working on ways of promoting aviation’s activities in the area of the environment. CEFA’s members include (in addition to ERA) the Association of European Airlines (AEA); the International Air Carrier Association (IACA); the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD); the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA); and European Express Carriers Association (EEA).

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Emissions Trading Scheme

A key tool to help reduce aviation’s impact on the environment is likely to be the inclusion of aviation in an emissions trading scheme (ETS). In December 2006, the European Commission released proposals to include aviation in the existing EU ETS.  For more information on emissions please visit our emissions trading page here

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Offsetting your aviation CO2 emissions

If you are concerned about the impact of your personal air travel on the environment there are a range of simple steps that you can take in other areas to offset these emissions. For example, a typical household’s emissions per person per year are calculated to be around 11 tonnes, yet a return flight from London to Barcelona will only emit approximately 0.26 tonnes per person. If travellers want to ‘afford’ a flight in reduced CO2 emissions, they could begin to think about eliminating some of the 11 tonnes of household emissions. Responsible Travel.com have researched different ways of cutting down carbon emissions and have found a few simple actions that would allow the traveller to ‘afford’ the CO2 emissions of a given flight – and the same amount again.  Return flight London-Barcelona – 0.26 tonnes CO2 per person Return flight London-Cairo – 0.77 tonnes CO2 per person Turn down your thermostat by 1oC 0.29 Turn down your thermostat by 1oC 0.29 Switch the TV off rather than standby 0.10 Switch the TV off rather than standby 0.10 Replace three ordinary bulbs with energy-saving 0.13 Take the underground to work instead of the car 0.75     Take a shower instead of a bath (not power shower) 0.23     Recycle 50% of your waste 0.20 TOTAL SAVING 0.52 TOTAL SAVING 1.57

For more information concerning environmental matters please contact Simon McNamara at inf.env@eraa.org

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1 Source: European Pollutant Release & Transfer Register 2 Source: IATA Debunking Some Persistent Myths about Air Transport and the Environment 3 Source: International Energy Agency BBC News article , IEA press release 4 Source: ATAG Social and Economic Benefits of Air transport 5 Source: ERA Membership