An emissions inventory using flight information reveals the long-term changes of aviation CO2 emissions in China. (1st January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lyu, Chen; Liu, Xiaoman; Wang, Zhen; Yang, Lu; Liu, Hao; Yang, Nan; Xu, Shaodong; Cao, Libin; Zhang, Zhe; Pang, Lingyun; Zhang, Li; Cai, Bofeng
• Is Part Of: Energy. Volume 262:Part B(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Subjects: Aviation -- Carbon dioxide emissions -- Full flight information -- Aircraft-engine parameters -- IPCC Tier 3B; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.125513
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-5442

Abstract

Abstract: The low-carbon development of air transport industry is of great significance for China to achieve the commitment of carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. In order to improve the basic data of aviation CO2 emissions, this study continuously collected full flight information in China from January 2017 to December 2020, and established a flight information database and an aircraft-engine parameter database. On the basis of IPCC's Tier 3B accounting method, this study established a long-term aviation CO2 emissions inventory of China from 2017 to 2020 by calculating and accumulating CO2 emissions of each flight. And aviation CO2 emissions of various provinces and cities in China were calculated combined with spatial allocation method. The results showed that aviation CO2 emissions in China was 104.1, 120.1, 136.9, and 88.3 Mt in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively, with annual growth rates of 15.4%, 14.0%, and −35.3% in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, aviation CO2 emissions in all 31 provinces and 93% of cities decreased in 2020 compared with 2019. China is in the stage of rapid development of air transport industry, and aviation fossil energy consumption and CO2 emissions have continued to grow in recent years. Highlights: Developed an aviation CO2 emissions inventory in China using full flight information. Calculated CO2 emission of LTO cycle and cruise stage of each flight. China's aviation CO2 emissions decreased by 35.3% in 2020 caused by the COVID-19. Calculated aviation CO2 emissions of provinces and cities in China. Over 84% of China's aviation CO2 emissions were contributed by 35 developed cities.