Analysis of the Relationship of the Degree of Aviation Sector Development with Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Measures of Economic Development in the European Union Countries

Piotr Niedzielski,Ewa Kuzionko-Ochrymiuk,Jarosław Kozuba,Natalia Drop,Magdalena Zioło

doi:10.3390/en14133801

Abstract

The rapid growth of aviation over the past fifty years has resulted in numerous negative environmental impacts due to the combustion of fossil fuels in aircraft engines. This paper presents the relationship between air transport and GHG emissions. Based on data on the development of aviation, the level of GHG emissions from transport, environmental tax revenues and the amount of GDP per capita in the countries of the European Union, an attempt was made to create a typification that would illustrate the interaction of GHG emissions with air transport, environmental taxes and GDP in the years 2009–2018. The next step to confirm the obtained results was the application of statistical methods: the TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method of linear ordering and the Perkal index. Based on the study findings, the analyzed countries were divided into three groups: the group of innovators, the stable group and the group of students. The analysis revealed the relationship of all three analyzed variables with air transport. The development of the aviation sector leads to a significant increase in GHG emissions from transport, increased revenues from environmental taxes and acceleration of the rate of economic growth of a country.

Highlights

Over the last five decades the rapid growth of aviation has had numerous negative environmental impacts as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels in aircraft engines.These effects, in the form of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions, noise emissions and land occupation, have direct and indirect impacts on human quality of life and health [1].Recently, extensive research has been conducted to identify ways to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of air transport
The study presents the impact of air transport on greenhouse gas emissions
The analysis findings allow us to conclude that the greatest potential of all the areas being currently investigated in terms of their air transport and tax system impact on greenhouse gas emissions lies with Austria, France, Spain, Ireland and Italy

Summary

Introduction

Over the last five decades the rapid growth of aviation has had numerous negative environmental impacts as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels in aircraft engines.These effects, in the form of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions, noise emissions and land occupation, have direct and indirect impacts on human quality of life and health [1].Recently, extensive research has been conducted to identify ways to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of air transport. Over the last five decades the rapid growth of aviation has had numerous negative environmental impacts as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels in aircraft engines. These effects, in the form of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions, noise emissions and land occupation, have direct and indirect impacts on human quality of life and health [1]. Extensive research has been conducted to identify ways to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of air transport. This article presents the relationship between air transport and greenhouse gas emissions. Various socio-economic policy tools implemented by the European Union countries, such as environmental taxes and GDP, and their connection with the growth of the aviation sector as well as their impact on greenhouse gas emissions were taken into consideration

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