Introduction

Recent climate predictions state that the critical 1.5 °C warming threshold is likely to be breached this decade1. Emitting sectors are therefore, in a position of utmost responsibility to enact policy and technology changes which best mitigate climate impact within this timeframe.

Aviation is one of the most difficult-to-abate sectors. This is due to the long lifespan of aircraft and the technological and regulatory barriers that must be overcome to bring about low-emission flight. Aviation industry workers and researchers must therefore open all channels of communication, on how best to effectively mitigate aircraft climate impact, with a focus on what action can be taken in this pivotal decade.

The Aviation Climate Impact Mitigation by 2030 (ACIM2030) conference, held at the University of Bristol on 6 September 2023, was organised to bring together academics, industry experts and other interested individuals, to discuss short-term solutions to rapidly reduce aviation’s impact on the environment. The day consisted of four sessions which captured the primary solution space to the aviation climate impact problem: (1) aviation climate science and modelling, (2) optimising aircraft operations, (3) alternative fuels and propulsion, and (4) technology and policy developments. Over each of the four sessions, experts gave presentations on their respective research areas and concluded with a panel discussion/Q&A. This report aims to summarise the day’s presentations and discussions, focusing on core science, key findings and open issues.

Read the full study here:

https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-024-00290-5