• Europe’s aviation sector now accounts for 13.1% of all transport emissions, more than double 1990 levels, with total climate impact (including contrails and nitrogen oxides) up to four times higher than CO₂ alone.
• Between 1990 and 2019, final energy use in aviation more than doubled, driven by rising air traffic and fuel demand, while road and rail emissions are slowly decarbonising.
• The EU’s ReFuelEU Aviation initiative targets SAF at 2% by 2025 and 70% by 2050, but experts warn faster adoption and technological innovation are essential to meet Europe’s climate goals.

Europe’s aviation sector is under the microscope. A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) reveals that greenhouse gas emissions from air travel are climbing faster than those from any other transport subsector. The 2025 Sustainability of Europe’s Mobility Systems report paints a clear picture: aviation is growing, and so is its climate footprint.

In 2023, aviation was responsible for 13.1 percent of all transport emissions — more than double what it was in 1990. And the impact goes beyond CO₂. When you factor in contrails and nitrogen oxide effects, the sector’s total climate impact could be two to four times higher than CO₂ alone. In short, aviation plays a much bigger role in climate change than the numbers on fuel consumption might suggest.

Energy consumption tells a similar story. Between 1990 and 2019, the sector’s final energy use, including international flights, more than doubled. Rising air traffic and higher fuel demand are driving that growth, and it shows no sign of slowing.

The report points to sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) as a key part of the solution. Under the EU’s ReFuelEU Aviationinitiative, SAF is set to make up 2 percent of fuel by 2025, with the target rising steadily to 70 percent by 2050. Early adoption is promising, but experts warn that innovation and scaling up need to happen much faster if aviation is to meet Europe’s climate goals.

“The aviation sector’s emissions trajectory is unsustainable,” the EEA warns. “SAF and other policy measures are crucial, but we also need broader technological solutions deployed quickly to keep aviation in line with Europe’s climate targets.”

The contrast is striking. Road and rail transport are slowly decarbonising, but aviation continues to be one of the fastest-growing sources of emissions. Without decisive action, the sector could seriously undermine Europe’s progress toward climate neutrality.

For policymakers and industry leaders, the challenge is urgent. They must find ways to reduce aviation’s environmental impact while remaining competitive in a market that increasingly values sustainability. The tools exist — it’s now a matter of putting them to work, and fast.

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