September 2007

Spotlight on the environmental impact of aviation

Aviation's impact on the environment and climate change is one of the most important challenges now facing the industry. A number of recent news stories have highlighted the importance and complexity of the arguments. The diversity of the views and the passion with which these are expressed serve to remind us of the importance of looking at the topic from all sides of the debate in order to reach a balanced view.

From an industry viewpoint it would be argued that these issues are being taken seriously and need to be looked at in context, whilst much research is taking place to address and reduce the environmental impact of future aircraft.

The complexity of the issues involved can be highlighted by a study that looked at the whole life cycle analysis of supplying the UK market with flowers comparing production in the Netherlands and Kenya, concluding that the flowers produced in Kenya and then flown to the UK had the least environmental impact. [Comparative Study of Cut Roses for the British Market Produced in Kenya and the Netherlands].

Examples of resources and sites that illustrate the issues particularly well include the following:

Industry sites

Air Travel Greener by Design
Air Travel Greener by Design : The Technology Challenge
Aviation and the Global Atmosphere : IPCC Special Report
Federal Aviation Administration : Environmental Policy and Guidance
Forecast of CO2 Emissions from Civil Aircraft for IPCC
Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) : Aviation and Environment
The Silent Aircraft Initiative

Selected news items

Let's stop being horrid about Heathrow
Campaigners leave Heathrow Camp
Warning for Heathrow protesters
Heathrow protesters target Airbus
Airlines sport their green colours
Air travel industry fights back over CO2

The eco campaigners

Airport Watch
Aviation Environment Federation (AEF)
Friends of the Earth
Plane Stupid
The Camp for Climate Action

Further resources can be found under these AERADE subject headings

Environment effects
Noise
Air pollution
Environment pollution

© Cranfield University