Path analysis for controlling climate change in global aviation

Summary

The aviation industry’s emissions have had a significant impact on global climate change. This study focuses on carbon emission trading schemes, sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), and hydrogen energy, as vital means for the aviation industry to reduce emissions. To evaluate the climate effects of global routes under four scenarios (24 sub-scenarios) until 2100, this study proposes the Aviation-FAIR (Aviation-Finite Amplitude Impulse Response) method. The findings reveal that while CO ₂ emissions and concentrations are significant, other emissions, such as N ₂O and CH ₄, have a greater effective radiative forcing (ERF) and contribute significantly to climate change. Moreover, SAFs are more effective in mitigating airline pollutant emissions than relying solely on carbon trading schemes. The effectiveness of hydrogen fuel cells may be hindered by technical limitations compared to hydrogen turbine engines. The findings of this study provide reference for the global aviation industry to adopt emission reduction measures.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

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  Collects the CO ₂, CO, HC, NOx, PM2.5, and SO ₂ emissions from global routes

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  The FAIR method is systematically designed for aviation emissions

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  Compare the carbon emission trading schemes and sustainable aviation fuel

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  Combine hydrogen turbines and hydrogen fuel cells with biomass fuel

Abstract

Environmental science; Global change; Energy policy; Global carbon cycle; Aviation