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UK leads in harmful aviation emissions, with Spain close behind
The carbon footprint generated by aviation in Europe soared by 16% during 2023
As the world continues to grapple with the challenges posed by climate change, a new report reveals that the aviation industry's carbon footprint in Europe has increased significantly.
According to data analytics company Mabrian, the airline industry generated a whopping 172 million tonnes of CO2 in 2023, a 16% jump from the previous year. This figure accounts for 4% of Europe's total CO2 emissions, with the top ten countries responsible for 84% of the continent's aviation emissions.
Leading the pack is the United Kingdom, which produced 31.4 million tonnes of CO2, followed closely by Germany and Spain, each generating 20 million tonnes. Russia and France round out the top five, contributing 18 million tonnes apiece. Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal and Greece complete the list of the top ten emitters.
Notably, the United Kingdom saw a substantial 24.20% increase in emissions, while Italy and France experienced hikes of 22.69% and 15.93%, respectively. These numbers are particularly concerning given the urgent need to address climate change.
To put things into perspective, it would take approximately 7 billion trees per year to offset the carbon footprint generated by Europe's aviation sector – that's an incredible11% of the total forest mass in Europe.
Mabrian's Partner and Director of Marketing and Communication, Carlos Cendra, has been quick to stress that the aim of this report is not to finger-point at the airline industry, but rather to raise awareness among tourist destinations about the importance of measuring the environmental impact of their visitors.
By taking responsibility and implementing measures to mitigate their carbon footprint, holiday hot spots can work towards achieving the NetZero or climate neutrality goal set by 2050, he added.
Image: Freepik
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