Aviation affects the climate through its CO2 emissions as well as by several other emissions and physical disturbances of the atmosphere. These so-called non-CO2 climate impacts are similar in magnitude to the CO2 impacts.
EASA has been tasked with providing an updated analysis of these non-CO2 impacts, accompanied by a proposal on how best to address them. CE Delft contributed to this study by identifying potential policy measures and exploring their possible design and effectiveness.
This report concludes that increased use of sustainable aviation fuels with a low aromatics content would create a synergy between addressing CO2 and non-CO2 impacts of aviation. Because these fuels have lower particulate emissions, they result in fewer contrails, which would reduce the climate impact of aviation.