Halving corporate air travel by 2030 would reduce emissions equal to 16 million cars

Between 2005 and 2019, aviation traffic in Europe grew by 67%, resulting in an increase in emissions at a time when reductions are crucial. Projections indicate a further 38% rise in emissions by 2050. It is imperative to take decisive action.

Immediate measures are necessary to curtail aviation emissions before 2030 and completely offset their climate impact by 2050. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emphasises the urgency of rapid, substantial reductions, especially within the next three years. Notably, reducing long-haul aviation offers the most significant potential for emission avoidance.

Given the pressing need to decrease oil dependency, a practical approach is to sustain the reduced flying levels witnessed during the pandemic. In 2020, a substantial portion of the 64.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) reduction in total EU oil consumption compared to 2019 (37%) was attributed to the decline in international aviation, despite constituting only 6.3% of transport oil consumption. The International Energy Agency’s 10-point plan underscores the considerable impact of reducing business flights and opting for high-speed trains over planes for business travel.

A small fraction of the global population, less than 1%, comprises frequent flyers, yet they contribute over 50% of aviation emissions. Corporate travel significantly drives aviation demand. A 50% reduction in this sector by 2030 could reduce European emissions by 32.6 MtCO2, equivalent to removing 16 million polluting cars from the roads. Adopting smarter flying practices is a feasible solution, challenging the outdated and inefficient notion of dispatching workers worldwide.

“It’s scandalous that in a time of the climate emergency we still have these extra routes,” said Victor Thévenet, from green group Transport & Environment. “These flights [between Brussels and Amsterdam] have a climate impact that is 14 times higher than the train.”