Aerospace and Defense Review

Four Trends Working Towards Sustainable Aviation

Air travel accounts for 2.4 percent of total CO2 emissions worldwide. That number will rise if nothing changes since air travel is expected to double in the next 20 years.

Fremont CA: Air travel is a driving force behind global economic, social, and cultural development, and it has fundamentally transformed how we travel vacation and conduct business. However, the aviation sector is being scrutinized more closely because of its environmental impact.  Here are four aviation trends working toward sustainability:

COVID-19’s impact on aviation sector

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The coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the airline industry, exposing the influence of travel on climate change even further. Countries throughout the world remarked on how much noise and pollution were reduced during the lockdown. Many individuals, especially politicians, are motivated to keep the positive developments going. This, together with people adjusting to life without work or long-distance vacations, could result in long-term changes in consumer behavior. On the other side, after months of being cooped up at home, individuals may be eager to travel, thus the pandemic’s entire impact on the travel sector remains to be seen.

Offsetting carbon

Many airlines are launching carbon offset programs to compensate for the emissions generated by their flights. Planting trees and investing in sustainable energy research are two examples of these activities. However, there are opponents of carbon offset programs, and the jury is still out on how effective they are.

Pressure from government

Governments and policymakers worldwide are helping the fight against climate change by enacting new fees and regulations to reduce pollution from air travel. These efforts align with those advocated by several international organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (CORSIA), the European Green Deal, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Tension around air travel

Many travelers are joining the fight, campaigning for more environmentally friendly travel options as part of a growing “flight shaming” movement. As a result, some clients will cut back on travel, opt for direct flights, and/or fly with the most environmentally friendly carriers. Others have declared a complete boycott of air travel.

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