Aviation 2016

Aviation forms a key component of the transportation industry with over 6 billion passengers every year. Out of the current industrial carbon emissions, aviation accounts for around 3%. Despite its emissions currently being relatively small, aviation is one of the fastest growing sectors, growing at around 5% per year, leading to a more connected global economy. This growth rate is expected to outpace developments in technology, with aviation ultimately accounting for up to 15% of total anthropogenic climate impacts by 2050. In addition to carbon emissions, aviation’s non-CO2 impacts are of equal, if not greater, importance. Given the altitudes that aircraft operate, aviation has a unique and substantial environmental impact. NOx emissions and condensation trails, or contrails, are significant short-term climate forcers and lead to a variety of competing effects impacting the environment.

In this contest, we look for a variety of solutions aimed at changing the way we tackle aviation’s environmental impacts. From near-term operational changes to long-term, game changing technologies, we are open to a range of ideas.