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Advancing the Science for Aviation and ClimAte

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

Calculating non-CO2-related climate impact of the aviation sector

Aside from CO2 emissions, the aviation sector impacts the climate in several ways: ozone and methane changes from NOx emissions, contrails cirrus, and indirect aerosol effects. These effects are of similar magnitude as the impact of CO2 emissions. The EU-funded ACACIA project aims at improving the scientific understanding of the non-CO2 effects, in particular, the indirect effect of aviation soot and aerosol on clouds. It will identify the need for international measurement campaigns and strive to put all aviation effects on a common scale to provide an updated climate impact assessment. Finally, the project will provide the knowledge basis and strategic guidance for future implementation of mitigation options, giving robust recommendations for no-regret strategies for reducing the climate impact of aviation.

Objective

Non-CO2 emissions of aviation may impact climate as much as aviation's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions do. However, the impact the non-CO2 effects (e.g. ozone and methane from NOx emis-sions, contrails, indirect aerosol effects) is associated with much larger uncertainties, some of these effects might result in a relatively large cooling.

ACACIA has four aims for scientifically based and internationally harmonised policies and regulations for a more climate-friendly aviation system. (1) We will improve scientific understanding of those impacts that have the largest uncertainty, in particular, the indirect effect of aviation soot and aerosol on clouds. (2) We will identify needs for international measurement campaigns to constrain our numerical models and theories with data and we will formulate several design options for such campaigns. (3) Putting all aviation effects on a common scale will allow providing an updated climate impact assessment. Uncertainties will be treated in a transparent way, such that trade-offs between different mitigation strategies can be evaluated explicitly. This helps our final aim (4) to provide the knowledge basis and strategic guidance for future implementation of mitigation options, giving robust recommendations for no-regret strategies for achieving reduced climate impact of aviation.

To this end, ACACIA brings together research across scales (from plume to global scale), from the laboratory experiments to global models, and it proceeds from fundamental physics and chemistry to the provision of recommendations for policy, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders in the aviation business. Additionally, ACACIA will cooperate with international partners, both research institutions and organisations.

Fields of science

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

H2020-MG-2018-2019-2020

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Sub call

H2020-MG-2019-SingleStage-INEA

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EV
Net EU contribution
€ 842 875,00
Address
LINDER HOHE
51147 Koln
Germany

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 842 875,00

Participants (10)

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Last update: 19 December 2023

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/875036

European Union, 2024