Implementation of eco-efficient procedures to mitigate the climate impact of non-CO₂ effects

Abstract

Within this study, the lack of incentivizing airlines to internalize their climate costs is tried to be closed by the introduction of climate-charged airspaces, as non-CO₂ emissions have location- and time-dependent effects upon the climate. In order to create an incentive for airlines to minimize flight time and emissions in highly climate-sensitive regions, a climate charge is imposed for airlines when operating in these areas. Cost-minimizing airlines are expected to re-route their flights to reduce their climate charges and hence cash operating costs. Accordingly, this leads to the desired outcome of incentivizing climate mitigation and even of driving technological innovation towards cleaner technologies. The evaluation of the climate impact mitigation potential of climate-charged airspaces is performed based on optimal control techniques. Climate sensitivities are expressed by climate change functions characterizing the climate impact caused by an emission at a certain location and time. The cost-benefit potential (climate impact mitigation vs. rise in operating costs) is investigated for a Transatlantic route and benchmarked against climate-optimized trajectories.