The impact of air travel on

the environment
Khristichenko Anastasia
Volodchenko Saimon
Sadykov Maxim
• The main environmental effects of aviation are those of aircraft noise and
aircraft emissions. The former largely affects areas at and around airports,
the latter can have both local effects on air quality and global effects on
climate.
 EU mechanisms to reduce emissions
• International aviation emissions are growing fast and need to be tackled to achieve the
internationally agreed target. Thus, a comprehensive approach is needed. The EU is taking action
in three areas, namely
• 1) R&D for “greener” technology,
• 2) modernised air traffic management systems,
• 3) market-based measures
• The EU Aviation Strategy aims to improve the environmental impact of aviation. Aviation needs
to develop in a sustainable way of reducing its environmental footprint and contributing to the
fight against climate change.
• Air transport’s main environmental issues are noise and pollution which are experienced by residents in
the vicinity of airports and greenhouse gas emissions which occur in the high atmosphere. Noise has been
the focus of concern over the last 30 years of growth in air transport. Over the years advancements in
airframe design and engine construction technologies have reduced airplane noise. To further reduce
aircraft impact, specific regulations, procedures and restrictions have been established for arrival and
departure flight paths. For many years air pollution from aircrafts has created a lot of concerns and
has become a growing issue. The October 2006 report by Nicholas Stern states that the largest
contributor to human-induced CO2 is power generation at 24%, mostly produced in coal and gas fired
stations. Next is land use change at 18%, then agriculture, industry and transport at 14% each,
buildings (8%), other energy related activities (5%) and waste (3%) make upthe rest. According to the
United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), aviation accounts for only 2% of
man-made global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use and this could reach 3% by 2050.
• Aircraft engine exhausts produce also condensation trails (contrails) in the atmosphere about 10
kilometres above theEarth's surface. At these high altitudes, contrails and cirrus clouds form
depending on the quantity of water vapour and atmospheric conditions. Exhausts may act in a way
similar to the effects produced by greenhouse gases. Both reflect sunlight that would otherwise
warm the Earth's surface. At the same time, they absorb heat from the ground instead of allowing
it to escape (infrared rays). Scientists are uncertain about the impact of contrails on global
warming and climate change. More research is being done on this issue in defining the effect of
contrails on climate change.
• Growing tourism often means more wastes and more pollution. With the influx of people, a country
will have to cater for their needs, and as more people go on vacation, the more the tourism industry’s
carbon footprint seems to increase. Unfortunately not all governments seem to understand the
importance of doing something to reduce this negative environmental impact. Having tourists around
the world also means that there is an impact on the environment.

• But thank the coronavirus! He stopped the

damn tourist rush, and maybe he'll save the
earth. God save the coronavirus!
• According to the OECD, the number of tourists is set to increase steadily at
about 3% per year. This increase will result in a 5% increase in global
greenhouse emissions. This can be further broken down as follows: 40%
from air travel, 32% from automobiles and 21% from tourists’
accommodations.
• I would also like to note that Greta Tupberg, a well-known animal activist,
opposed air travelTumberg fundamentally opposed to air travel, because it is
traditionally believed that the aircraft - one of the main sources of emissions
of greenhouse gases. That is why she did not fly to the summit in new York,
but sailed on an 18-meter sailing yacht Malizia II on solar batteries.
 List of references

• https://en.aegeanair.com/aegeancms/Uploads/FlightandEnvironment.PDF
• https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/environment_en
• https://www.tourism-review.com/negative-impact-of-tourism-on-environm
ent-is-growing-news4586
• https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-49855138
Thank you for your attention