An investigation by Stand.earth Research Group reveals that air freight carriers such as FedEx, UPS, and Amazon Air have significantly increased their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2019, with the U.S. responsible for over 40% of global air cargo emissions. Key findings include:

• Air freight operators' annual GHG emissions have risen by 25% since 2019, adding nearly 20 million tons of CO2 annually.
• FedEx, UPS, and Amazon Air account for more than 27% of emissions from global dedicated freighter flights.
• The surge in non-urgent air freight during the COVID-19 pandemic has persisted and continues to grow.
• Amazon Air's pollution doubled year-over-year from 2019 to 2023, despite the company's climate pledges.

Shipping by air is highly carbon-intensive, producing up to 80 times more carbon than sea or truck shipping. The report urges air freight carriers to shift to lower-carbon transport methods like marine shipping or rail. Transparency and full accounting of GHG emissions are recommended to align with climate and public health goals. Air pollution from fossil fuels is linked to significant health impacts, with studies highlighting millions of global deaths annually due to air pollution. Immediate emissions reductions are critical, according to the IPCC.

Read the original article here:

https://stand.earth/press-releases/investigation-finds-air-freighters-increased-their-pollution-by-25-since-2019-u-s-responsible-for-over-40-globally/

Read the full report here:

https://stand.earth/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Stand-Aviation-Report.pdf