Statistically speaking, aviation does in fact produce a large amount of emissions. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, "It accounts for four to nine percent of the total climate change impact of human activity (n.d.)." The increased demand in the ever-changing aviation industry have increased flights and therefore the emissions also. In fact, the International Council on Clean Transportation has stated, "if commercial aviation were a country, it would rank seventh in global greenhouse gas emissions…(Brown 2014)." Looking at carbon dioxide levels, it looks like the aviation industry contributes around 12% of the carbon dioxide emissions out of all transport methods (ATAG n.d.). One can further understand the emissions created by aviation by comparing it to another mode of transportation that we are all very familiar with; driving. An environmental news website called Grist.org calculated the difference in the carbon dioxide levels between flying and driving from Philadelphia to Boston. They calculated that a plane would produce 184 kilograms of carbon dioxide per person and a entire medium sized car would produce only 104 kilograms of carbon dioxide (Earth Talk 2016). In addition to this whole idea, a european consultant agency called CE Delft, found that flights that consisted of 1500 kilometers are about fifty percent worse than a petrol car for each passenger per kilometer (economist 2006). However, putting this in perspective, the 1500 kilometer flights that airlines do are not practical for any other form of aviation. With that, 80% of the emissions produced by the aviation industry are these long haul flights (ATAG n.d.). Currently, the only way to lower the emissions in aircraft is to be more efficient by burning less gas. There has been some research into alternative fuels like fuels made out of things like algae which would lower the emissions (ATAG n.d.). One thing I think is very important to note is that according to the Air Transport Action Group, the jets today are 80% more fuel efficient per seat kilometer than in 1960 (n.d.). Therefore, we have certainly come a long way and I'd be willing to bet the trend will only continue. The increase in number of flights throughout the years may be one reason for increased emissions.
The United Nations came to an agreement on aircraft emissions on October 6, 2016. The fact that they ratified such an agreement is big news in that the aviation industry is the first industry to have a worldwide pact to control emissions. This agreement will only apply to international flights. The entire system is voluntary from 2021-2027 and then become mandatory from 2028 to 2035 (Lowy 2016). Basically, the levels of emissions in the year 2020 will be recorded and used as a cap for airlines. If an airline goes over this cap they will have to purchase credits for more emissions (Lowy 2016). The United States and China have both agreed to join in on this initiative in its voluntary stage which is important because both produce the most emissions (Milman 2016).
The Paris Agreement is another agreement that deals with the reduction of emissions. According to the European Commission, the deal is set to limit the increase in temperature to 1.5 degrees celsius and for each country to reduce their emissions in order to decrease the global emissions (European Commission n.d.). The agreement was set forth on November 4, 2016 (Guardian News 2016). However, our new president elect creates a great uncertainty into what will happen in regards to the Paris Agreement. Donald Trump has said, "Any regulation that's outdated, unnecessary, bad for workers or contrary to the national interest will be scrapped and scrapped completely (BBC News 2016)." He has said that he wants more drilling, an approval of a Keystone pipeline from Canada and less regulations (BBC News 2016). That being said, one could say that he thinks less restrictive regulations and more drilling will help the U.S. economy. It is very hard to sit down and know what exactly he will do while in office. However, if he plans to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as he has said it is likely that other nations will also withdraw. In addition, it is likely many countries would be angered by the U.S. withdrawing from the Paris agreement as it shows a lack of concern for the global climate (U.S. News & World report 2016).
In my opinion, I think lowering emissions is important for all industries. It is important to consider the future and acknowledge the fact there are consequences from all of our actions. However, in the current time I don't know if the the United Nations agreement of airlines using carbon credits is the most effective way to handle the issue. Aviation has simply increased more and more over years. By using this credit system, I think you can only limit your emissions to a point. In the long run it comes down to engine efficiencies or alternative fuels. Also, I think that airlines will most likely burn right through their credits early because of increases in air transportation. I definitely think more money and time can be put on creating more efficient engines. We have come a long way in terms of engine efficiencies as it is. Therefore, I wouldn't say it was necessarily a over reaction. I think these laws are definitely important steps in agreeing and coming to a consensus that something needs to be done to preserve our climate. However, when it comes down to it, engine efficiency is what is important. These increases in efficiencies will only come in time.
References:
ATAG-Air Transport Action Group. (n.d.). Facts & Figures - Air Transport Action Group (ATAG). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.atag.org/facts-and-figures.html
BBC News. (2016, May 27). Donald Trump would 'cancel' Paris climate deal. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-36401174
Brown, V. (2014, January 2). Aviation industry faces pressure to curb emissions. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/2015/01/aviation-climate-impact
David Suzuki Foundation. (n.d.). Air travel and climate change. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/climate-change/science/climate-change-basics/air-travel-and-climate-change/
Earth Talk. (2016, March 24). Is flying or driving better for the environment? Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/fly_vs_drive.htm
Economist. (2006, June 8). The dirty sky. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.economist.com/node/7038726
European Commission. (n.d.). Paris Agreement. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/paris/index_en.htm
Guardian News. (2016, November 13). Trump seeking quickest way to quit Paris climate agreement, says report. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/13/trump-looking-at-quickest-way-to-quit-paris-climate-agreement-says-report
Lowy, J. (2016, October 6). UN agreement reached on aircraft climate-change emissions. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6be5cb930f7b4ecbb24ec79219a74225/un-agreement-reached-aircraft-climate-change-emissions
Milman, O. (2016, October 06). First deal to curb aviation emissions agreed in landmark UN accord. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/06/aviation-emissions-agreement-united-nations
Platt, J. (2013, October 9). CO2 101: Why is carbon dioxide bad? Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/stories/co2-101-why-is-carbon-dioxide-bad
U.S. News & World Report. (2016, November 14). What if Trump Pulls U.S. Out of Paris Agreement on Climate Change? Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2016-11-14/what-could-the-world-do-if-trump-pulls-us-out-of-paris-agreement-on-climate-change
The United Nations came to an agreement on aircraft emissions on October 6, 2016. The fact that they ratified such an agreement is big news in that the aviation industry is the first industry to have a worldwide pact to control emissions. This agreement will only apply to international flights. The entire system is voluntary from 2021-2027 and then become mandatory from 2028 to 2035 (Lowy 2016). Basically, the levels of emissions in the year 2020 will be recorded and used as a cap for airlines. If an airline goes over this cap they will have to purchase credits for more emissions (Lowy 2016). The United States and China have both agreed to join in on this initiative in its voluntary stage which is important because both produce the most emissions (Milman 2016).
The Paris Agreement is another agreement that deals with the reduction of emissions. According to the European Commission, the deal is set to limit the increase in temperature to 1.5 degrees celsius and for each country to reduce their emissions in order to decrease the global emissions (European Commission n.d.). The agreement was set forth on November 4, 2016 (Guardian News 2016). However, our new president elect creates a great uncertainty into what will happen in regards to the Paris Agreement. Donald Trump has said, "Any regulation that's outdated, unnecessary, bad for workers or contrary to the national interest will be scrapped and scrapped completely (BBC News 2016)." He has said that he wants more drilling, an approval of a Keystone pipeline from Canada and less regulations (BBC News 2016). That being said, one could say that he thinks less restrictive regulations and more drilling will help the U.S. economy. It is very hard to sit down and know what exactly he will do while in office. However, if he plans to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as he has said it is likely that other nations will also withdraw. In addition, it is likely many countries would be angered by the U.S. withdrawing from the Paris agreement as it shows a lack of concern for the global climate (U.S. News & World report 2016).
In my opinion, I think lowering emissions is important for all industries. It is important to consider the future and acknowledge the fact there are consequences from all of our actions. However, in the current time I don't know if the the United Nations agreement of airlines using carbon credits is the most effective way to handle the issue. Aviation has simply increased more and more over years. By using this credit system, I think you can only limit your emissions to a point. In the long run it comes down to engine efficiencies or alternative fuels. Also, I think that airlines will most likely burn right through their credits early because of increases in air transportation. I definitely think more money and time can be put on creating more efficient engines. We have come a long way in terms of engine efficiencies as it is. Therefore, I wouldn't say it was necessarily a over reaction. I think these laws are definitely important steps in agreeing and coming to a consensus that something needs to be done to preserve our climate. However, when it comes down to it, engine efficiency is what is important. These increases in efficiencies will only come in time.
References:
ATAG-Air Transport Action Group. (n.d.). Facts & Figures - Air Transport Action Group (ATAG). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.atag.org/facts-and-figures.html
BBC News. (2016, May 27). Donald Trump would 'cancel' Paris climate deal. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-36401174
Brown, V. (2014, January 2). Aviation industry faces pressure to curb emissions. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/2015/01/aviation-climate-impact
David Suzuki Foundation. (n.d.). Air travel and climate change. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/climate-change/science/climate-change-basics/air-travel-and-climate-change/
Earth Talk. (2016, March 24). Is flying or driving better for the environment? Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/fly_vs_drive.htm
Economist. (2006, June 8). The dirty sky. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.economist.com/node/7038726
European Commission. (n.d.). Paris Agreement. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/paris/index_en.htm
Guardian News. (2016, November 13). Trump seeking quickest way to quit Paris climate agreement, says report. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/13/trump-looking-at-quickest-way-to-quit-paris-climate-agreement-says-report
Lowy, J. (2016, October 6). UN agreement reached on aircraft climate-change emissions. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6be5cb930f7b4ecbb24ec79219a74225/un-agreement-reached-aircraft-climate-change-emissions
Milman, O. (2016, October 06). First deal to curb aviation emissions agreed in landmark UN accord. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/06/aviation-emissions-agreement-united-nations
Platt, J. (2013, October 9). CO2 101: Why is carbon dioxide bad? Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/stories/co2-101-why-is-carbon-dioxide-bad
U.S. News & World Report. (2016, November 14). What if Trump Pulls U.S. Out of Paris Agreement on Climate Change? Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2016-11-14/what-could-the-world-do-if-trump-pulls-us-out-of-paris-agreement-on-climate-change
I would agree that we need to solve the emissions issue we currently have right now sooner rather than later. However, it will be difficult in order to do it in aviation since aircraft produce as much CO2 as they do. There is a lot more people flying on the aircraft than in a car, so it is spread out more since there are fewer cars driving that distance. I have seen some studies done though, that fuel efficient cars are still producing less emissions than flying. With more efficient cars being introduced, aircraft are going to have to keep up.
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