Articles tagged with "aviation-emissions"
T&E, Greenpeace and 10+ Organisations Call on the EU to Maintain the Law Promoting Alternatives to Short-Haul Flights - CleanTechnica
Transport & Environment (T&E), Greenpeace, and a coalition of over a dozen environmental organizations have urged the European Commission to retain Article 20 in the EU Air Services Regulation (ASR). This article, confirmed by the Commission’s 2022 implementing decision, supports limiting traffic rights on certain flights to address serious environmental concerns. The coalition argues that Article 20 is crucial for curbing aviation emissions growth during this pivotal decade for climate action, especially as industry stakeholders push to narrow its application ahead of the ASR revision. The groups present three key reasons for maintaining a strong and broad scope for Article 20: first, additional measures are essential to reduce emissions and control unchecked aviation growth; second, targeted flight restrictions are an effective, rapid tool to meet EU and national climate targets; and third, sustainable connectivity must integrate both air and rail transport, favoring cleaner alternatives where viable. They also emphasize respecting democratic processes and citizens’ initiatives, noting that countries like France and Spain have already adopted flight limitations as
energysustainable-mobilityEU-Air-Services-RegulationCO2-mitigationaviation-emissionsenvironmental-policyclean-transportationNew levels of aircraft engine efficiency unlocked with AI model
The European Commission’s “Flightpath 2050” strategy aims to significantly reduce aviation emissions, with more efficient aircraft engines being a key technology to achieve this goal. Researchers at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in Austria, through the ARIADNE project, have developed an AI-driven model that accelerates the simulation and optimization of intermediate turbine ducts—critical components that guide airflow between high- and low-pressure turbines in aircraft engines. By leveraging a large database of flow data and testing various AI approaches, the team found that reduced order models, which focus on common data features, dramatically speed up calculations while maintaining acceptable accuracy. This allows for rapid assessment of efficiency changes when design parameters, such as duct length, are varied. The TU Graz team plans to share their extensive turbine duct database and reduced-order model online to enable other researchers to develop advanced three-dimensional simulation models. Their machine learning approach has also uncovered previously unknown dependencies and trends in engine design, opening new avenues for innovation. Given that aviation
energyaircraft-enginesAI-optimizationturbine-ductsaviation-emissionsmachine-learningsimulation-modelsWhat If Private Air Travel Meant The Wealthiest Had To Pay A Climate Tax? - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica discusses a growing international proposal to impose a climate tax on private jet travel, particularly targeting first- and business-class seats. Known as the Premium Flyers Solidarity Coalition Declaration, this initiative aims to make the wealthiest air travelers pay a fair share for the disproportionately high carbon emissions generated by private jets, which contribute significantly to global warming despite aviation accounting for about 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions. The tax would address the aviation sector’s historically favorable tax treatment and help fund climate finance, potentially raising up to $200 billion annually by 2035. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) supports carbon pricing as a means to incentivize technological innovation and efficiency improvements in aviation, accelerating the sector’s transition to net zero emissions. Several countries have expressed support for the Declaration, including industrialized nations like Spain and France, as well as less industrialized countries such as Benin, Kenya, and Nigeria, which stand to benefit from climate finance due to their lower emissions
energyclimate-taxcarbon-pricingaviation-emissionsprivate-jetsenvironmental-policysustainable-travelEthanol plant CO2 waste could be turned into sustainable jet fuel
The article discusses new research indicating that carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted from ethanol plants can be repurposed to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that reduces aviation emissions by over 80% compared to traditional fossil fuels. Ethanol fermentation releases about 85% of its volume as highly pure CO₂, making it easier and less energy-intensive to capture than emissions from coal or cement plants. Since the corn used in ethanol production absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere, recycling the fermentation CO₂ effectively reuses existing carbon rather than adding new emissions. This approach presents a promising opportunity to convert what is currently considered waste into a valuable low-carbon fuel resource. The study evaluated several pathways for producing jet fuel from ethanol and captured CO₂, including the conventional Alcohol-to-Jet process and two CO₂-based routes involving synthesis gas (syngas) conversion: gas fermentation followed by Alcohol-to-Jet, and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Life cycle assessments showed that Fischer-Tropsch could reduce carbon intensity
energysustainable-fuelcarbon-captureethanol-productionjet-fueldecarbonizationaviation-emissionsCarbon Leakage in the Aviation Sector: Is it a problem, and if so, what can be done to address it? - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica examines the issue of carbon leakage in the aviation sector, particularly in relation to the European Union’s climate policies such as the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Fit for 55 package. Carbon leakage occurs when emissions shift outside regulated areas to avoid compliance costs, for example, passengers choosing connecting flights through non-EU hubs like Istanbul, Doha, or Dubai to bypass EU climate charges. However, recent analyses commissioned by Transport & Environment (T&E) and conducted by CE Delft and Lexavia Aviation Consultants reveal that the risk of carbon leakage in aviation is minimal. At most, only about 3% of the expected 38.4 million tons of CO2 emissions savings by 2035 could be lost due to leakage, indicating that EU climate measures remain largely effective. The risk is mainly concentrated on a few long-haul routes, and expanding the EU ETS to all departing flights would only marginally increase ticket prices by 2-6%, with non-E
energycarbon-leakageaviation-emissionsEU-Emissions-Trading-Systemsustainable-aviation-fuelclimate-policycarbon-pricingEuropean Aviation Set to Spend Billions on Offsetting Schemes - CleanTechnica
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is currently reviewing its progress toward the Long Term Aspirational Goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 during its 42nd General Assembly. A key focus is on CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), designed to complement other emissions reduction efforts in aviation. However, CORSIA has so far failed to stabilize aviation CO2 emissions or significantly promote green technologies like sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and zero-emission planes. A recent Transport & Environment (T&E) analysis criticizes CORSIA as an expensive distraction, estimating that European aviation could spend between €7 billion and €43 billion on offsetting projects over the next decade, with minimal climate or local community benefits. Moreover, due to its design, CORSIA will only offset about 26% of EU international aviation emissions by 2035. The article highlights concerns about ICAO’s governance, noting significant industry influence from fossil fuel companies and airlines,
energycarbon-offsettingaviation-emissionssustainable-aviation-fuelsclimate-policyEU-ETSnet-zero-carbon-emissionsCountries Obliged to Include Aviation Contrails in Climate Plans under Paris Agreement, New Legal Advice Shows - CleanTechnica
A recent legal analysis commissioned by environmental groups Transport & Environment (T&E) and Opportunity Green concludes that countries are legally obligated under the Paris Agreement to include non-CO2 emissions from aviation—such as contrails—in their national climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs). These non-CO2 emissions are estimated to account for at least half of aviation’s climate impact and have a significant warming effect comparable to CO2 emissions. The analysis highlights that excluding these emissions means countries are failing to meet their commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as stipulated by the Paris Agreement. The legal advice rests on three main arguments: the temperature-based targets of the Paris Agreement require addressing all warming contributors; the agreement mandates simultaneous reductions in CO2 and non-CO2 greenhouse gases; and the precautionary principle calls for action based on the best available scientific knowledge, even amid uncertainties. Aviation’s non-CO2 emissions, particularly contrails, have been
energyclimate-changeaviation-emissionsParis-Agreementgreenhouse-gasesenvironmental-policynon-CO2-emissions