THE AFFECTS OF AIR TRAVEL ON THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ECOSYSTEMS. IN CANADA AND ABROAD

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE Air travel is responsible for between 4 and 9 percent of global anthropogenic climate change. In this image you can see the water vapor “contrails” left by an airliner.

TYPES OF EMISSIONS Aircraft produce several types of emissions. These include Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Water Vapor (H2O), and other miscellaneous gases and elements harmful to the environment.

GROWTH Air travel has grown an average of 5.2% each year since This means more “air-traffic” and therefore more harmful gases and chemicals released into the atmosphere.

TRAFFIC GROWTH A recent study done in the UK shows that the amount of people using airports grew by 120% between 1990 and 2004.

FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAMS Over 130 airlines currently have some type of “miles-flown” based frequent flyer program. Several studies have “contemplated” discontinuing frequent flyer programs for the benefit of ethics, anti-competitiveness, and reducing aviation’s effects on the climate.