The air travel is growing rapidly, and thus the emissions of greenhouse gases. Everything goes on as before, then could quadruple these emissions by 2050. That would be bad for the climate targets. Reversal in sight?
Aviation conference in The Hague: activists call for a tax on environmental damage to the air traffic
First the good news: climate-neutral flying could possible be a witness with conventional transport flight and in the foreseeable future.
Decisive for the replacement of the kerosene petroleum-based by means of climate-neutral fuels. As for the future synthetically produced kerosene is. From renewable electricity, water and CO2 with the help of electrolysis to recover, or even in a solar reactor.
The technique will work. According to experts, the conversion would be very fast.
“The global air traffic could be complete in 10 years, synthetic fuels change, if this were the declared and uncompromising goal,” says Christian Breyer, Professor for solar economy at Lappeenranta University in Finland compared to the DW.
The big Problem with these fuels, the Integration in the market currently: There are only small plants, no industrial production, and without political control, is it for the climate-friendly kerosene heavy, compared to the cheaper, conventional version to enforce. Incentives should be created so that this new fuel by airlines is also in demand.
More: climate-neutral Oil-from Norway to 2020 and How the world is neutral, favorable climate?
Air traffic with climate-neutral flight routes
A further building block for a groundbreaking airline transport climate-neutral flight routes: planes create a large amount additional effects on Climate, nitrogen oxides, ozone, soot and formation of clouds.
According to information from the German center for air and space research center (DLR) produced the current air traffic an additional warming effect is in the same order of magnitude as the CO2. Because the combustion of kerosene in the altitude has an effect twice as large a Greenhouse as the combustion of kerosene on the ground. The Federal environment Agency (UBA) estimates that these greenhouse effect of air travel, according to updated calculations by the factor two to three.
By optimizing flight routes with these additional greenhouse effects were, however, significantly reduce, or even avoid.
“Firstly, there is the option to close is particularly harmful to the climate flight routes for air traffic,” explains Urban white hair, flight route expert at Lufthansa Systems. The other possibility is the inclusion of the heating effects in the emission trade. Airlines, the then climate-friendly routes to choose paid less for the air pollution and could save you money.
“I think the introduction of a corresponding system by 2025 is feasible,” said atmosphere scientist Sigrun Matthes, DLR the DW.
More: climate-neutral fly – is that possible? And when the air travel green is?
With corrections to the flight routes, the additional warming could be effects due to the air travel in the future to avoid.
Air travel is currently not on Track
Global warming limited to below two degrees, preferably 1.5 degrees still would have to change to decrease all greenhouse gas emissions, according to the world to Zero by 2050. Currently, the Trend in global air travel, however, is another. 2018 commercial aviation issued according to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), a total of 918 million tonnes of CO2.
According to forecasts by the International civil aviation organization (ICAO) is expected to quadruple the fuel requirements in the international air traffic by 2050, may. The fuel would be necessary, as in the past, with oil covered, and the flight routes not optimized for climate protection, would not be achieved, the global objective of greenhouse gas neutrality.
“Ultimately, the big goal for all in the year 2050 in the emissions at net Zero, and as long as you are still burning kerosene that’s not possible,” explains climate researcher Carsten Warnecke of the New Climate Institute to the DW.
More: climate change can be limited, and 1.5-degree target with tremendous effort possible
For the climate targets set for greenhouse gas must be reduced quickly. A further rise would be fatal.
What solutions are being discussed?
Currently, the international aviation organization (ICAO) discussed compensatory measures due to CO2 pollution in the air (CORSIA). With the help of CO2 compensation certificates, a small part of the greenhouse gas emissions of aviation CO2 savings to be offset elsewhere.
In the journal Nature Climate Change, warn scientists in their analysis , however, that these measures are ineffective for the climate could be, since the trade with already existing pollution, right, no new CO2 – saving effect.
“There is a real risk that the measure will fail to achieve its objectives,” says Co-author Warnecke, compared to the DW.
Very critical of the see-thought-out emissions trading scheme are also numerous environmental initiatives. “CORSIA is a dangerous diversion of the flight industry, this will lead to a further increase in emissions,” warns Magdalena Heuwieser by the international Initiative to Stay Grounded.
Stay Grounded, environmental and transport associations, the Federal environmental Agency are calling for the avoidance and reduction of air traffic, in order to reduce the increase in aviation emissions.
As one important measure is the relocation of the flight is to be seen in traffic, especially on the Track. Here, incentives should be created.
“Currently, air transport is massively subsidized. For example, kerosene is exempt from the energy tax on international flights, no VAT will be charged, and the operation of airports is subsidised in many cases by the state. The moves Unmenengen of money in a transport of relatively few people, and especially the better-off move,” explains traffic expert Jens Hilgenberg of the protected organization FEDERAL.
Also the climate damage should be priced in the future, in ticket prices, and advises the Federal environment Agency. According to current calculations by the Federal environment Agency, a Tonne of CO2 causes the damage of around 640 euros in the next 100 years. This will need to be worn mainly by the younger and future generations and paid for.
It is priced only a part of this damage is a cost in the Tickets, so the climate-damaging flights would be more expensive and more climate-friendly means of transport in comparison with attractive. A climate-friendly transport choice would be rewarded.
An advantage would be the Inclusion of environmental costs but also for the airline industry, self-Sustainable flights and Airlines would be so rewarded, as the price of kerosene from crude oil would be more expensive and climate-friendly kerosene in the comparison cheaper. Accordingly, the demand for alternative fuels in aviation are on the rise.
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When flying at a great height, further greenhouse effects: contrails occur in addition to the CO2-emissions are to veil of clouds, which can unfold to the sun and the surface locally to a cooling or warming effect. Moreover, aircraft produce in the amount of ozone and soot, and lead to additional greenhouse effects.
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Our everyday life, contributes to the heating of the climate. Heating, electricity, clothing, food – all of this counts for the CO2-footprint. To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, and should not be ejecting the Germans according to the German Federal environment Agency per capita a year, only about one Tonne of harmful carbon dioxide – a ton for everything, whether sausages or flight. Every fifth uses the plane for pleasure trips.
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Air transport is not only a burden on the global climate, he has also a local impact. Duration of flight noise, for example, increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and heart attack. Children who live in the vicinity of airports, not able to concentrate and therefore learn bad. And the local air quality oxides the emissions of pollutants, such as nitrogen.
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In comparison to other means of transport, air transport is supported financially enormous. EU-wide collected, for example, no taxes on kerosene. In Germany, all cross-border flights are VAT even exempted. According to the latest Figures of the Federal Environment Agency the German government renounced in 2012 alone, more than 4.7 billion euros in tax revenue.
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The air transport is also subsidized on the ground. So an indirect subsidy to be invested in new airports and Expansion of airports, a lot of tax money. Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair & Co are always in the criticism, because you can expect of your staff, poor working conditions, in order to save costs.
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