The top 10 most polluting airports have been revealed – and three of them are in Europe

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: New research from ODI Global and Transport & Environment ranks Dubai, London Heathrow and Los Angeles as the world’s three most polluting airports by passenger-flight emissions

🔭 The context: The study analysed climate and air quality impacts from 1,300 airports using 2023 data
• Dubai Airport ranked first with 23.2 million tonnes of CO₂, followed by Heathrow with 21 million tonnes and LAX with 18.8 million tonnes
• Three European hubs made the top 10: Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Aviation remains highly dependent on fossil fuels and is still off-track for net-zero goals
• Airport expansion risks locking in more emissions unless paired with credible demand management, cleaner fuels and stronger carbon pricing

⏭️ What’s next: Campaigners are calling for governments to reassess airport expansion plans and prioritize energy security, public health and emissions reductions

💬 One quote: “A genuine strategy and roadmap that includes demand management are sorely needed.” — Sam Pickard, ODI Global

📈 One stat: Just 100 airports account for around two-thirds of global CO₂ emissions from passenger flights

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