It should come as no surprise that CO2 emissions from aviation plummeted during 2020. But just by how much? Speaking to the Indian parliament on Thursday, the Minister of state for civil aviation, V.K. Singh, laid out detailed numbers for emissions over the past two years. These broke an alarming trend that saw domestic air travel-related CO2 nearly double from 2012 to 2018.

Hitting the pause button dropped CO2 to 2012 levels

If there was one positive thing to come from the 'great pause' of 2020, it was the small amount of breathing space afforded to the earth as CO2 emissions took a nosedive. Unfortunately, this was only temporary. In 2021, the world is predicted to have emitted 36.4 gigatons of carbon dioxide, which is already similar to 2019 levels.

As is, by now, common knowledge, aviation contributes to somewhere between 2% and 3% of global CO2. When air travel came to a near standstill last year, numbers, unsurprisingly dropped significantly. Looking specifically at the Indian passenger market, 2020 pulled the breaks on an upward trajectory - although a small positive trend was already visible the year before the pandemic.

Between 2012 and 2018, CO2 emissions from Indian scheduled domestic operations almost doubled. They went from 6,135,000 tonnes in 2012, to 12,307,000 tonnes during 2018. However, as the country's Minister of state for civil aviation, V.K. Singh, informed the parliament on Thursday, the pandemic significantly reduced emissions.

In 2019, CO2 emitted by domestic aviation was 11,843,000 tonnes. In 2020, that figure dropped below 2012 levels, reaching 'only' 6,023,000 tonnes.

IndiGo a320
There was a slight reduction in CO2 emissions both in domestic and international operations in 2019, compared to the year before. Photo: Airbus

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Airlines are taking measures

Meanwhile, the minister said as quoted by Mint, CO2 emissions from international operations rose from 5,425,000 tonnes in 2012, to 8,441,000 tonnes in 2018. In 2019, this was 7,057,000 tonnes. However, due to the 2020 travel restrictions, it dropped to 3,194,000 tonnes.

As is distinguishable from the numbers, there was already a slight reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2019. This is obviously not due to the pandemic as the two Indian airlines operating to China - Air India and IndiGo - did not begin canceling flights until January 31st, 2020. Hence, there must be other explanations for the noticeable reduction.

“Measures taken by airlines to reduce carbon footprint include rationalization of operating times/ procedures, use of renewable energy, and use of alternative fuels in ground handling vehicles," Mr Singh said

Photo: Getty Images

India's fleet modernization

More modern fleets have most likely also played a part in the reduction from 2018 to 2019. For instance, Air India began taking deliveries of A320neos in 2017. IndiGo operates a fleet that is only 3.4 years on average. SpiceJet still operates a relatively aging fleet of 737NGs. However, it has begun taking deliveries of what will be 146 more fuel-efficient 737 MAX 8 aircraft. As young an airline as Vistara is, it is no surprise that its fleet also has an average age of just under three years.

As aviation returns to more normal growth paths over the coming years, it is essential that emissions are not only reigned in but massively reduced compared to pre-pandemic levels. Figures from 2019 would suggest India could be on the right track. However, as for all of aviation, there is still a long way to go. Hopefully, these figures will serve as motivation and show that it is possible to move the needle now, using what is available, rather than wait for others to develop new technologies.