Pathways analysis to reducing aircraft emissions for China-Foreign routes

The rapid development of the aviation industry significantly impacts global climate change. The carbon Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) are considered two essential ways for the aviation industry to reduce emissions. This paper uses China-foreign routes, the fastest growing region in the world, as an example to calculate the actual emissions (CO₂, CO, HC, NOx, SO₂, and PM2.5), calculate the Carbon Dioxide Equivalent Concentration (CDEC) using the Aviation FAIR-GWP concentration method, to compare the role of the ETS and SAFs in controlling emissions until the year 2100. The results show that SAFs are more effective in controlling the pollutant emissions of the aircraft than ETS, as ETS mainly covers CO₂ and ignores other greenhouse gases. However, the best way is to combine SAFs and ETS; the combined effect is much better than SAFs alone or ETS alone. The research results provide systematic suggestions for the aviation industry to reduce emissions effectively.

Qiang Cui, Yi-lin Lei