Without huge strides in efficiency, aviation
will fall short of contributing its share toward
meeting the Paris accord goals for reducing
emissions and curbing climate change,
Rutherford said.
After terror attacks and recession led to big
losses from 2001 through 2009, U.S. airlines have
turned hugely profitable in recent years. They
have spent billions to buy new planes, but they
have also used those planes to add scores of
new flights that contribute to higher emissions.
Reports could give a boost to flight shaming
— discouraging people from flying to avoid
pumping more carbon into the atmosphere.
“It’s crazy that you can get all this data on the
cost of your ticket and amenities on your flight,
but you have no information about how carbon-
intensive your flight is,” Rutherford said.
The aviation body of the United Nations has
proposed putting limits on aircraft carbon
emissions for new plane models beginning next
year and previous models still being produced
in 2028. Many environmentalists consider the
standards too weak.