Emissions from aviation are a significant contributor to climate change. Airplanes burn fossil fuel which not only releases CO2 emissions but also has strong warming non-CO2 effects due to nitrogen oxides (NOx), vapour trails and cloud formation triggered by the altitude at which aircraft operate.

While aviation is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, in 2026, planes and the airline industry are "helping" mitigate climate change through rapid technological decarbonization and high-efficiency operations. Modern aircraft like the Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A321neo are up to 25% more fuel-efficient than the models they replaced, significantly reducing the "per-passenger" carbon footprint. Airlines are also scaling up the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which is made from waste oils and agricultural residue and can reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 80%. Furthermore, 2026 marks the commercial debut of regional electric aircraft and "hybrid-electric" designs for short-haul flights, which produce zero or near-zero operational emissions. By consolidating more passengers onto fewer, more efficient flights (a strategy known as "load factor maximization"), the industry is effectively slowing the growth of its total emissions budget. Additionally, some airlines now use AI-driven flight path optimization to avoid the formation of contrails, which are known to trap heat in the atmosphere, thereby directly reducing the warming effect of their operations.