Understanding Carbon Offsets

Climate Impacts from Aviation

The climate impacts of jet aircraft emissions are summarized in the graphic below, with values identifying the warming or cooling effect of the pollutant produced by air travel.

There are four main ways in which aviation affects the climate:

  • CO2 emissions from jet fuel combustion
  • Indirect impacts from the emission of nitrogen oxides
  • Emission of aerosols (soot and sulfates)
  • Formation of contrails and cirrus clouds (water vapor)

Related pages:

CO2 emissions

Indirect impacts from nitrogen oxide emissions

Particulate emissions from aviation: sulfates and soot aerosols

Contrails and cirrus clouds from aviation

Total climate impact from aviation