1. Does aviation only contribute a small fraction of global emissions?

Misconception: Aviation contributes only a tiny amount of global emissions and isn’t a major concern.

Fact: While aviation currently contributes around 2.4% of global CO2 emissions, its total climate impact is much larger due to non-CO2 emissions like contrails and nitrogen oxides (NOx). These non-CO2 factors double the climate impact of aviation, making it responsible for approximately 5% of global warming. As air travel is expected to grow, aviation’s share of emissions will increase significantly.

Source: International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), 2019

2. Are all aviation emissions from CO2?

Misconception: Aviation pollution is mostly CO2.

Fact: Aviation also produces non-CO2 emissions such as water vapor, contrails, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter, which have significant warming effects. In fact, contrails alone may account for up to 57% of aviation’s climate impact, making the non-CO2 emissions potentially more harmful than CO2 alone.

Source: European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E), 2020

3. Can aviation go carbon-neutral just by using carbon offsets?

Misconception: Carbon offsets make flights completely carbon-neutral.

Fact: Carbon offset programs do not eliminate aviation emissions but only attempt to counterbalance them by funding unrelated environmental projects. Many experts criticize offset programs for being temporary or ineffective, as they don’t address aviation's non-CO2 emissions or reduce the sector's actual greenhouse gas output. Real solutions require sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), technological innovations, and reducing overall demand.

Source: Environmental Defense Fund, 2022

4. Is aviation noise no longer a concern due to modern quieter engines?

Misconception: Modern aircraft are so quiet that noise pollution is no longer an issue.

Fact: While modern aircraft are 75% quieter than older models, rising air traffic has offset these improvements. More than 6 million people in Europe alone are still exposed to harmful noise levels from aviation, leading to significant health concerns like stress and sleep disorders.

Source: European Environment Agency (EEA), 2020

5. Is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) widely used and effective in reducing emissions?

Misconception: SAF is already widely adopted and effectively reduces emissions.

Fact: As of 2020, less than 0.1% of global aviation fuel is sustainable. While SAF can reduce life-cycle emissions by up to 80%, its availability is limited, and it is not yet scalable enough to make a major impact on global aviation emissions. Much larger adoption and production capacity are needed, and it is uncertain if we have enough supply to make a dent.

Source: Clean Skies for Tomorrow, 2021

6. Does flying only contribute to climate change through CO2?

Misconception: Only CO2 from airplanes causes climate change.

Fact: In addition to CO2, aviation also produces water vapor, NOx, and soot that form contrails and cirrus clouds. These non-CO2 emissions increase the overall warming effect of aviation, sometimes making it two to four times more significant than the CO2 emissions alone.

Source: International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), 2019

7. Can technological advancements fully solve aviation pollution?

Misconception: New technologies and efficiency improvements will eventually eliminate aviation’s environmental impact.

Fact: While technological improvements can reduce emissions per flight, the projected increase in air traffic could offset any benefits. Aircraft efficiency gains are slow, and even next-generation technologies like electric and hydrogen-powered planes will take decades to scale. Real emissions reductions may require limiting flight demand and exploring more radical measures.

Source: International Air Transport Association (IATA), 2021

8. Does lead pollution from aviation still exist?

Misconception: Lead pollution from airplanes is a thing of the past.

Fact: Leaded fuel is still used by piston-engine aircraft, which emit about 468 tons of lead annually in the U.S. alone. This disproportionately affects people living near airports, especially children, increasing their blood lead levels. Lead exposure can have lifelong health impacts.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2021

9. Is aviation's contribution to global warming negligible compared to other sectors?

Misconception: Aviation doesn’t play a big role in global warming compared to other sectors like energy or manufacturing.

Fact: Aviation's 5% share of global warming is comparable to that of entire countries, and its impact is growing. Its non-CO2 emissions, such as contrails, intensify this effect. Moreover, aviation’s role is expected to increase as demand for air travel grows, meaning that without significant intervention, its climate impact will rise rapidly.

Source: European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), 2021