Ukraine war raised flight emissions by 1% as planes rerouted, study says

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🗞️ Driving the news: A study found that about 1,100 flights were rerouted daily in 2023 due to Russia's war in Ukraine, increasing aviation emissions by 1%
• The diversions, avoiding Russian and Ukrainian airspace, released an estimated 8.2 million extra metric tons of CO₂
• This increase is equivalent to the annual emissions of some small countries, such as Costa Rica

🔭 The context: After Russia’s invasion in 2022, Ukraine closed its airspace, and Western nations banned Russian airlines, with Moscow imposing reciprocal restrictions
• These measures forced many long-haul flights between Asia, Europe, and North America to take longer routes
• Some flights, like Lufthansa’s Tokyo-Frankfurt route, added up to three hours of travel time

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The rerouted flights added emissions equivalent to 1.9 million gas-powered cars' annual output
• Aviation already accounts for around 2.5% of global emissions and 3.5% of human-caused warming
• The study highlights the challenges of decarbonizing air travel amid geopolitical disruptions

⏭️ What's next: With global emissions needing a 42% reduction by 2030 to meet climate goals, additional aviation emissions make progress harder
• The study suggests actual emissions may be even higher due to unaccounted operational constraints and incomplete data
• The ongoing war and geopolitical tensions could further impact emissions from air travel

💬 One quote: “Decarbonization—if it happens—takes place in small increments, eventually adding up to a big number. So in that context, anything that goes in the wrong direction is a bad sign.” — Nicolas Bellouin, climate scientist and study lead

📈 One stat: The extra emissions from diverted flights in 2023 equaled Costa Rica’s total CO₂ emissions in 2022 (7.6 million metric tons)

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