For all the talk of SAF, efficiency and environmental policy, CO2 emission for European aviation actually increased by 16% in 2023, according to new data.

Tourism intelligence company Mabrian has shared the results of a study on the impact of aviation on the carbon footprint and tourism sustainability of European destinations in 2023, during its participation in a virtual session organized by UN Tourism and the European Travel Commission (ETC) on measuring the carbon footprint of the tourism sector.

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According to the study, in 2023, the aviation sector generated approximately 172 million tons of CO2 in Europe, equivalent to 4% of the total CO2 generated on the continent, according to the European Union’s estimates. To offset this carbon footprint, an estimated 7 billion trees per year are needed, which represents 11% of the total forest mass in Europe, according to the European Union’s estimates and the Encon consultancy report.

There is a significant variation in emissions generated compared to 2022, increasing by 16% overall. This is especially notable in some countries such as the United Kingdom with an increase of 24.20%, followed by Italy with an increase of 22.69%, and France with an increase of 15.93%.

Carlos Cendra, a director at Mabrian, said: “This analysis does not intend to point fingers at the aviation industry, which is essential for the tourism sector and is making significant strides in decarbonisation, but rather aims to raise awareness among tourist destinations of the need to measure the impact their visitors have on the environment, in order to act accordingly, take compensatory measures, and advance towards the Net Zero or climate neutrality goal set for 2050. Undoubtedly, measurement is the key to being able to take action and achieve the set objectives. On the other hand, we propose using cross-indicators, such as the relationship between carbon footprint and visitor-generated income in the destination’s local economy, which allow for better measurement of the impact from a balanced perspective.”