The war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has caused significant changes in the aviation industry, including in flight routes. The closure of the airspace over the conflict zone forced airlines to change their routes, which led to longer flights, higher fuel consumption and, as a result, increased greenhouse gas emissions. This has a significant impact on the climate situation in the world.
The Humanitarian Media Hub reports on the main findings of the study by Victoria Ivannikova, Assistant Professor in Aviation Management at Dublin City University.
Read also: Ukrainian Parliament Passes Climate Neutrality Bill
Changes in air routes and their consequences
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, many countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines, and Russia has responded by closing its airspace to airlines from these countries. This resulted in airlines being forced to change their routes to avoid the closed areas. For example, flights between Europe and Asia, which used to fly through Russia, are now forced to take southern or northern routes, which increases flight times by several hours.
Longer flight times lead to higher consumption of aviation fuel. Experts estimate that additional fuel consumption can amount to hundreds of thousands of litres per flight, depending on the route and type of aircraft. This, in turn, leads to an increase in carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gas emissions, which has a negative impact on the climate.
Read also: The Ministry of Environment and business discussed climate policy
Impact on climate change
The aviation industry has long been a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. According to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), aviation accounts for about 2-3% of global CO₂ emissions. Changes in flight routes caused by the war in Ukraine further increase this figure.
Additional CO₂ emissions contribute to the greenhouse effect, which leads to an increase in the average temperature on the planet. This can have serious consequences for the climate, including extreme weather events, sea level rise and other negative environmental impacts.
Read also: Ukraine is on the verge of a climate crisis: heat, droughts, floods and threats to ecosystems
Possible solutions and prospects
Airlines can take a variety of measures to mitigate their climate impact. One possible solution is to use more efficient aircraft that consume less fuel and have lower CO₂ emissions. Another promising area is the introduction of alternative fuels, such as biofuels or synthetic fuels, which have a lower carbon footprint.
In addition, optimising flight routes to take into account meteorological conditions and using modern navigation technologies can help reduce fuel consumption and emissions. International cooperation and coordination between countries is also key to ensuring safe and environmentally efficient air routes.
Read also: Greenpeace Ukraine Director Natalia Gozak: “After the war, there should be a country left suitable for the life of future generations”
