Private aviation is releasing more than its ‘fair share’ of emissions
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)
| Topic: GS3 – Environment – Environmental pollution and degradation |
| Context |
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Aviation Sector and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- If considered a country, the aviation sector would rank among the top 10 global greenhouse gas emitters.
- Air travel is one of the most polluting transportation modes due to high carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, as well as the effects of vapour trails and atmospheric gases.
| Private Jets and Their High Carbon Footprint |
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Private Aircraft in India
- India had 112 private planes as of March 2024, with a ratio of 0.01 private aircraft per lakh population.
- While this ratio is lower than countries like the U.S. (5.45) and Switzerland (3.76), India ranks among the top 20 nations in private aircraft ownership and leads among low-middle-income countries.
- This trend is driven by India’s rapid economic growth and its ranking as the third-largest country in terms of billionaires.
Private Jet Usage and Global Trends
- Researchers analyzed private jet usage at events like the World Economic Forum and FIFA World Cup, finding 47% of flights were for distances under 500 km.
- About 19% of flights were shorter than 200 km, including empty flights or those delivering goods.
- Leisure travel via private jets peaks during summer months, particularly to destinations like Ibiza and Nice.
Decarbonizing Aviation
- India launched initiatives like UDAN and NABH to enhance connectivity and airport capacity.
- Efforts to use sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) include trials by SpiceJet in 2018 and Air Asia in 2023. However, SAF commercialization faces challenges like high costs and limited availability.
Future Solutions
- Hydrogen and electrification are being explored, but implementation faces challenges like infrastructure redesign and battery dependency.
- Alcohol-to-jet fuel is a promising medium-term solution, especially using surplus sugar for ethanol production, which could meet 15–20% of India’s aviation fuel demand by 2050 without negative agricultural impacts.
| Practice Question: Analyze the environmental challenges posed by the aviation industry, particularly private aviation, and discuss the potential of alternative fuels and technologies in reducing its carbon footprint. (150 Words /10 marks) |
