Air quality

The Hidden Pollution of Air Travel

It is well known that flying emits CO2, but few realize that aircrafts release many other pollutants into the atmosphere. In addition to CO2, every flight also releases hidden emissions such as soot, nitrous oxides (NOx), and sulphur dioxide (SO2).

Health Implications and Sustainable Development Goals

The hidden emissions carry health implications, especially if you work in or live near an airport, or near busy flight routes. Studies available show emissions of soot by jet engines may be responsible for approximately 14,000 premature deaths each year globally. The same analysis estimates that hundreds of thousands of cases of high blood pressure, diabetes, and dementia may be caused by soot from aviation.

These health implications are directly related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The emissions from aviation contribute to various health issues, impacting the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – People living near airports or busy flight routes are particularly affected by the hidden pollution, compromising the goal of creating sustainable cities and communities.

We can’t continue to fly blind on the air pollution caused by burning kerosene, and let the aviation sector keep us in the dark about the full impact of flying. Regulation is needed to ensure the aviation industry implements straightforward solutions today to reduce this hidden pollution.

Solutions to Reduce Hidden Pollution

The first solution is to improve jet fuel quality. The amount of soot released by every flight critically depends on the composition of jet fuels. By reducing the concentration of aromatics (ring-shaped carbon molecules) and sulphur in kerosene, emissions of soot can be reduced. This is a cost-effective solution that has been done for cars and ships but not yet in planes.

The increasing use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) will also help to lower pollution, as they have lower aromatics and therefore cause fewer emissions. Unfortunately, these fuels are not yet available at scale and they are very expensive. In the meantime, improving the quality of kerosene that is burned in plane engines should be a top priority.

Conclusion

The hidden pollution caused by air travel poses significant health risks and undermines progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It is crucial for the aviation industry to take immediate action to improve jet fuel quality and explore sustainable aviation fuels to reduce emissions. By prioritizing these solutions, we can mitigate the negative impact of air travel on both human health and the environment.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

The article discusses the health implications of aircraft emissions, the need to reduce pollution near airports and flight routes, the regulation of the aviation industry to reduce hidden pollution, and the promotion of sustainable aviation fuels as a lower-pollution alternative.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
2. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
3. Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
4. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

The article highlights the need to reduce deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution, improve air quality near airports and flight routes, raise awareness about the impact of aviation emissions, and increase the use of sustainable aviation fuels.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Emissions of soot by jet engines responsible for approximately 14,000 premature deaths each year globally (indicator for Target 3.9).
• Health implications for those living near airports or busy flight routes due to emissions from aircraft (indicator for Target 11.6).
• Regulation needed to ensure the aviation industry implements solutions to reduce hidden pollution (indicator for Target 13.3).
• Promotion of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) as a lower-pollution alternative to traditional jet fuels (indicator for Target 7.2).

The article mentions the number of premature deaths caused by soot emissions, the health implications for those living near airports or flight routes, the need for regulation to reduce hidden pollution, and the promotion of sustainable aviation fuels as indicators of progress towards the identified targets.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.

Fuente: transportenvironment.org

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