Aviation emissions are rising again: experts demand immediate action!

Aviation emissions are rising again: experts demand immediate action!

The aviation industry is facing a critical situation after the pandemic. Despite the return to almost normalized flight volumes, greenhouse gas emissions in Austria have almost returned to pre-Corona levels, according to the VCÖ's current balance sheet. In 2024, air traffic in Austria produced around 2.1 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, an increase compared to 1.8 million tonnes in 2004. These figures highlight the need for a drastic reduction in emissions from aviation.

Expert Katharina Jaschinsky from VCÖ calls for a rapid and comprehensive reduction in emissions. The VCÖ also criticizes the fact that airlines in Europe do not pay mineral oil tax on kerosene. This tax exemption cost the Austrian state an estimated 570 million euros in 2022. Jaschinsky urges that the EU and its member states should expand and improve cross-border rail services, while at the same time increasingly replacing business travel with digital solutions such as video conferencing.

Technological advances in aviation

However, there is a positive trend in Germany. According to the press release from the Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry (BDL), the average kerosene consumption of German airlines has fallen to 3.44 liters per passenger and 100 kilometers. This represents a 45 percent decrease since 1990, which has reduced CO2 emissions per passenger to the same extent. BDL President Jens Bischof emphasizes the annual billions invested in energy-efficient aircraft. Renewing old aircraft can reduce emissions by up to 30 percent.

The German airlines' total fleet comprises 810 aircraft, and orders for 427 new aircraft by 2034 are already in progress. These modern long-haul aircraft consume just 2.1 to 2.5 liters of kerosene per passenger per 100 kilometers, depending on the seating configuration. Despite this progress, the ongoing bottleneck situation among aircraft manufacturers is delaying fleet renewal and thus potential CO2 savings.

Climate impact and mitigation strategies

The climate impact of aviation is not just limited to CO2 emissions. Around two thirds of the climate impact are so-called “non-CO2 effects”, which are influenced, among other things, by the combustion of kerosene and the climate-impacting substances produced there. These effects must be taken into account in future forecasts of the climate impact of air traffic, as the Federal Environment Agency explains in its information document.

In order to reduce the impact of air traffic on the climate, technical, organizational and regulatory measures are being proposed. These include, for example, the use of e-kerosene, improving the railway infrastructure and international cooperation to promote sustainable mobility. According to the findings of the VCÖ, the current situation requires faster implementation and promotion of sensible mobility alternatives such as the train.

In summary, it can be said that both technical innovations and political measures are essential to significantly improve the climate situation in aviation. The European Union and its Member States are called upon to create the necessary environment for sustainable development, while at the same time the aviation industry must intensify its efforts to improve its environmental performance.