Time is Ticking – Flying and the Climate

Flying and the Climate:

Why It Matters

• In 2023, flying accounted for around 8% of UK emissions, largely from international flights. Passenger numbers are rising again.
• Between 2000 and 2024, UK air passengers grew by more than 60%. By 2050, aviation could be the UK’s second-largest emitter after agriculture, responsible for about 35% of emissions, even if growth is constrained.

Who Flies Most?

• Most people worldwide fly rarely, if ever. In the UK, 10% of people are responsible for almost half of all flights.
• Inequality is stark: over 70% of low‑income households didn’t fly in 2023, while 20% of the highest‑income households flew more than 4 times.
• One return flight to New York can emit more CO₂ than driving a typical petrol car for a year.

More Than CO₂

• Planes also emit nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, soot and water vapour, which can amplify climate warming effects by up to about 3 times. These non‑CO₂ effects are shorter‑lived but significant.
• Beyond climate: aviation creates noise and air pollution, consumes large areas of land, harms wildlife and biodiversity, and airport expansion can blight local communities.
• Air pollution from global aviation is linked to an estimated 74,300 premature deaths each year.

Tech Won’t Save Us Fast Enough

• Aircraft are becoming more efficient, but not quickly enough to offset growth in flights — total emissions are still rising.
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF):
  • 100% SAF can cut CO₂ per flight by more than 60%, and non‑CO₂ effects by about 40%, but the current supply can’t scale using only the waste that is currently used.
  • Biofuels risk deforestation, land grabs, water stress, and compete with food.
  • E‑fuels need vast renewable energy, which we also need for power, heat and transport.

• Carbon offsetting often overestimates savings and delays real cuts.
• BECCS (e.g. proposals linked to Drax) is contested, not yet proven at scale, and risky to rely on for aviation growth.

 UK Targets: Not Enough Yet

• Current emissions: about 33 MtCO2e (megatonnes of CO₂ equivalent).
• Government trajectory (Jet Zero, 2022): 35 MtCO2e (2030) → 28 (2040) → 19 (2050). These targets aren’t binding and ignore non‑CO₂
• Deeper, enforceable cuts are needed to meet UK climate goals.

What Needs to Happen

• End tax breaks on aviation fuel; set binding emissions targets that include non‑CO₂
• Stop airport expansion — more flights mean more emissions, and largely benefit wealthy frequent flyers and shareholders.
• Introduce a frequent flyer levy — each extra flight costs more, making flying fairer and reducing demand.
• Cut business travel — post‑pandemic tools can replace many trips; business flights fell by almost a third in 2023.
• Invest in alternatives — make long‑distance rail and public transport affordable, reliable and better value than flying.

What You Can Do

• Fly less where possible; choose rail for domestic and European trips.
• If you must fly, pick fewer, longer trips instead of several short ones.
• Support policies for fairer flying and better trains; back local campaigns resisting harmful airport expansion.

Call to action:

• Choose lower‑carbon travel for your next trip.

• Share this leaflet and start a conversation about fair, climate‑safe travel.