Environmental impact of aviation facts for kids

Air travel is a big part of our modern world. It helps people and goods move quickly across the globe. But all this flying also has a major effect on our environment, especially the air around Earth.

As more and more people travel by plane, air traffic has grown a lot. This growth is one of the main reasons for climate change, which is a big shift in Earth's weather patterns. Planes create noise pollution and use a lot of fuel, which causes pollution. Even though planes can carry many people at once, their overall impact on the environment is significant.

Many people know about the environmental impact of cars. However, fewer people are aware of how much aircraft affect our planet.

Air Travel and Our Planet

Air travel connects the world, but it also impacts our environment. When planes fly, they release gases and noise. These can change the air we breathe and the climate.

How Planes Affect the Environment

Planes affect the environment in several ways. The main issues are air pollution, noise pollution, and the creation of contrails.

Air Pollution from Planes

Planes burn fuel to fly. This burning releases gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. CO2 is a "greenhouse gas." Greenhouse gases trap heat, leading to climate change. Since 1940, the amount of CO2 from aviation has grown a lot. By 2018, it made up about 2.65% of all CO2 emissions. This number keeps growing as more people fly.

Noise Pollution from Aircraft

Planes are very loud, especially when taking off or landing. This loud noise is called noise pollution. It can disturb people living near airports. It can also affect wildlife in those areas. Imagine trying to sleep or study with loud planes flying overhead!

Contrails and Clouds

Sometimes, you see white lines in the sky behind planes. These are called contrails. They are like thin clouds made of water vapor and tiny particles from the plane's exhaust. Contrails can sometimes spread out and form larger cirrus clouds. These clouds can trap heat in the atmosphere, adding to the warming effect.

Other Environmental Impacts

Planes also need to be de-iced in cold weather. The fluid used for deicing can sometimes get into nearby water bodies. This can cause water pollution. It's important to manage these fluids carefully.

What's Being Done to Help?

Many groups are working to make air travel more environmentally friendly. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is one such group. They have goals to lower carbon emissions from planes.

Cleaner Planes and Fuels

One way to help is to build more fuel-efficient aircraft. These planes use less fuel, so they release less pollution. Scientists are also developing sustainable aviation fuel. This fuel is made from things like plants or waste, rather than just fossil fuels. Using these new fuels can greatly reduce the carbon footprint of flying.

Better Air Traffic Management

Improving how planes fly can also help. This is called air traffic management. By planning flight paths more efficiently, planes can use less fuel. This means less time spent flying and less pollution.

Carbon Offsetting

Some airlines take part in programs like CORSIA. This program aims to balance out carbon emissions. Airlines might invest money in projects that reduce greenhouse gases elsewhere. For example, they might help fund wind farms or other green energy projects. This helps make up for the emissions from their flights.

Electric Aircraft

The future of air travel might include electric planes. In 2020, the Velis Electro became the first electric aircraft to be officially certified. This is a big step towards cleaner flying. Electric planes would produce no emissions during flight, which would be a huge benefit for the environment.

Images for kids

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  Between 1940 and 2018, aviation CO2 emissions grew from 0.7% to 2.65% of all CO₂ emissions.

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  Contrails and cirrus clouds

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  By 2020, global international aviation emissions were around 70% higher than in 2005 and they could grow by over further 300% by 2050 in the absence of additional measures. The ICAO aims to lower carbon emissions through more fuel-efficient aircraft; sustainable aviation fuel; Improved air traffic management; and CORSIA

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  Noise map of Berlin Tegel Airport

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  Excess aircraft deicing fluid may contaminate nearby water bodies

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  The Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV station offers train connections

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  Economic cost and climate influence relation for transatlantic traffic

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  Money generated by carbon offsets from airlines often go to fund green-energy projects such as wind farms.

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  The Velis Electro was the first type certificated electric aircraft on 10 June 2020.

See also

In Spanish: Impacto ambiental de la aviación para niños