1. This course is prepared under the Erasmus+ KA-210-YOU Project titled
«Skilling Youth for the Next Generation Air Transport Management»
Sustainability
Management in Aviation
Environmental dimension – Global warming – Part I
Prof. Dr. Frank Fichert
Worms University of Applied Sciences
2. Global warming (or climate change), caused by greenhouse gas emissions
(GHG), is a huge challenge for mankind. The increasing CO2 concentration in the
atmosphere is one major reason for global warming.
In general, burning hydrocarbons (CxHy) leads to emissions of CO2 and H2O. The
quantities differ based on the type of fuel, e.g. burning 1 kg of aviation fuel leads to
3.15 kg of CO2 emissions and 1.25 kg of H2O emissions (less CO2 emissions if
burning 1 kg of gasoline). CO2 remains in atmosphere for a long period, leading to
an increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Other emissions (esp. NOx) are not linear to fuel burn, but depend on engine
technology as well as some other factors.
Global warming – Part I 2
Overview
3. Several international agreements aim at limiting climate change
(‘keep the global temperature increase to well below 2°C and pursue efforts
to keep it to 1.5°C’, based on pre-industrial temperature).
Based on these agreements, states aim at reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, e.g. EU wants to be ‘carbon neutral’ by 2050.
Global warming – Part I 3
Overview
4. Civil aviation’s share in global anthropogenic CO2 emissions was around
2.5% in 2018.
Due to the growth of the industry, this share has been increasing over time
(and is expected to grow further in a ‘business as usual’ scenario, especially
if other sectors (continue to) reduce their emissions).
Share of aviation’s emissions is higher in high-income countries.
Global warming – Part I 4
Overview
5. Moreover, there are several Non-CO2-effects, leading to additional global
warming, in particular:
- Contrails caused by emissions in higher altitudes under specific conditions
- NOx emissions
There is still a high level of uncertainty with respect to these and other Non-CO2-
effects – and researchers try to better understand the respective effects. For
example, contrails have ‘warming’ as well as ‘cooling’ effects.
Based on the Non-CO2-effects, many institutions and researchers argue that
aviation’s share in global warming is higher than its share in CO2 emissions (often
using simplified multipliers).
Global warming – Part I 5
Overview
6. In order to achieve climate neutrality, (net) use of fossil fuels has to be
reduced to zero.
Therefore, either replacing fossil fuels with other types of energy (e.g.
electric cars instead of cars with a combustion engine, assuming that
‘renewable’ sources like solar and wind are used for generating electricity)
or replacing (or avoiding) activities that require fuel burn with activities
that do not require fuel burn (e.g. taking a bike instead of taking a car).
Global warming – Part I 6
Options for reducing CO2 emission
7. Please think about and discuss with others, which instruments might be
used by policy makers to reduce aviation’s future contribution on climate
change. Please also think about / discuss major advantages and
disadvantages of different instruments.
Global warming – Part I 7
Task
=> Please then continue with video/slides ‘Sust S/V 04-02’
