How Countries Must Address Aviation Contrails in Their Climate Action Plans: What You Need to Know

Leading environmental law experts have found that countries must factor in non-CO₂ emissions from aviation in their climate plans. These emissions, which include contrails—the white lines left by airplanes—make up a significant part of aviation’s climate impact. A study commissioned by environmental groups Transport & Environment (T&E) and Opportunity Green highlights that these emissions could account for over half of aviation’s contribution to global warming.

The Paris Agreement requires nations to limit global warming. Research shows that non-CO₂ emissions are just as harmful as CO₂ emissions from airplanes. Therefore, if countries aren’t including these emissions, they are falling short on their climate commitments.

Diane Vitry, Aviation Director at T&E, emphasizes the urgency, saying, “Scientists have warned about contrail warming for over 25 years. Now legal advice shows countries must act to reduce them. We need action, not just words.”

The legal obligation is clear: countries must include all aviation emissions to comply with the Paris Agreement. Surrounding this conclusion are three key points:

1. Climate Responsibility: An International Court of Justice ruling establishes that nations must take stronger action to minimize climate change impacts.
2. Real Impact: Aviation currently contributes about 2-3% of global CO₂ emissions, but non-CO₂ emissions such as contrails must also be considered.
3. Accessibility to Change: Adjusting flight paths could significantly reduce contrail impact without extensive cost or delay.

In 2019, a small percentage of flights was responsible for the majority of contrail warming. Mitigating contrails could quickly yield climate benefits. Slight adjustments to flight routes could make a substantial difference.

Interestingly, many countries fail to include international aviation emissions in their climate plans, despite being legally required to do so. T&E urges nations to update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reflect the full scope of aviation’s climate impact, particularly as countries prepare for COP30 in Brazil this November.

The European Union, set to submit its NDC by September 2025, has an excellent opportunity to lead by example—showing ambition by including both CO₂ and non-CO₂ emissions from aviation.

With public awareness of climate issues growing, the inclusion of these emissions in national plans reflects a broader trend among citizens and activists advocating for decisive climate action. Historical comparisons to past climate agreements indicate that unless nations heed these legal insights and scientific findings, the goals set in Paris risk remaining unfulfilled.

For more on aviation’s environmental impact, visit Transport & Environment: T&E.

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