The Technical University of Gothenburg, Chalmers, has produced a new calculator for air traffic pollution as a function of the length of the journey. The tool has been created due to the harmful effects of increasing air traffic (of which 95% is passenger traffic) on the climate. Link to Chalmers tool here: http://flightemissionmap.org/

Her er Chalmers værktøj: http://flightemissionmap.org

In light of this new tool, we have reviewed our calculations and we have decided to follow Chalmers’ method as the tool is easy to use for us as consumers and because it is based on historical data from 1990-2017. We have made a comparison below of the most popular calculators on CO₂ emissions from air traffic.

With regards to emissions calculations, we recommend to not only look solely at the direct CO₂ emission, but also take into account the effect of the condensation trails that the aircraft leaves, resulting in small cloud formations. This is phenomenon is also called radiative forcing*.

Including the effect of the condensation trails, we land on a figure of about 0.300 kg CO₂-equivalent (CO₂e) emissions per flown kilometer on economy class on average. For the more expensive tickets, the emissions are higher due to fewer passengers per flight. We therefore recommend planting trees equivalent to 300 g CO₂ emitted per kilometer flown.

Analysis 2a: Comparison of CO₂ emissions including the greenhouse effect of condensation trails.

CO₂-emmission in kilogram per person round trip, condensation trails excluded (economy class)

Analysis 1b: Comparison of CO₂ equivalent per km flown, excl. effect of condensation trails:

CO₂ emmission in kilogram per person round trip, condensation trails excluded (economy class)

Analysis 1b: Comparison of CO₂ equivalent per km flown, excl. effect of condensation trails:

Tabel 2a: CO₂emmission in kilogram per person round trip, condensation trails excluded (economy class)

Tabel 2a: CO2 emissions per person, round trip, economy class, incl. condensation trails.

Tabel 2b: kg CO2e emissions per km.

Sources:

Kondensstriber = strålingspåvirkning = Radiative forcing.
https://www.carbonindependent.org/22.html
http://flightemissionmap.org/#Malm%C3%B6/55.61,13.00/170/20000 (Chalmers)
https://www.icao.int/environmentalprotection/CarbonOffset/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.chalmers.se/en/departments/see/news/Pages/climate-smart-vacation.aspx