Growth over climate or aviation climate policy in the Avoid–Shift–Improve framework
Abstract Aviation is one of the most challenging sectors in terms of its decarbonisation. While the difficulties are well-known, there is still a prominent climate-neutral growth narrative promising that Paris-aligned climate goals can be attained without jeopardising growth. To what extent is this...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | npj Climate Action |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00261-2 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849691276238127104 |
|---|---|
| author | Emilia Suomalainen |
| author_facet | Emilia Suomalainen |
| author_sort | Emilia Suomalainen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Aviation is one of the most challenging sectors in terms of its decarbonisation. While the difficulties are well-known, there is still a prominent climate-neutral growth narrative promising that Paris-aligned climate goals can be attained without jeopardising growth. To what extent is this narrative still credible in key aviation strategy documents? Notably, are the limitations of technological solutions to mitigating aviation emissions recognised? Are the possibilities of modal shift and/or demand management explored, hinting at a need to reduce air travel? In this work, these questions are examined for the European Union and Finland through the Avoid–Shift–Improve framework. Though the limitations of technological reality are starting to undermine the climate-neutral growth narrative, the need for out-of-sector measures to bridge the gap is not addressed. The current focus on (future) technological solutions does, however, mean that the climate impact of aviation is likely to continue unabated in the near term. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-85b19c3c31244cdba6d6239f1bc80933 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2731-9814 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Climate Action |
| spelling | doaj-art-85b19c3c31244cdba6d6239f1bc809332025-08-20T03:21:06ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate Action2731-98142025-06-01411910.1038/s44168-025-00261-2Growth over climate or aviation climate policy in the Avoid–Shift–Improve frameworkEmilia Suomalainen0Finnish Environment InstituteAbstract Aviation is one of the most challenging sectors in terms of its decarbonisation. While the difficulties are well-known, there is still a prominent climate-neutral growth narrative promising that Paris-aligned climate goals can be attained without jeopardising growth. To what extent is this narrative still credible in key aviation strategy documents? Notably, are the limitations of technological solutions to mitigating aviation emissions recognised? Are the possibilities of modal shift and/or demand management explored, hinting at a need to reduce air travel? In this work, these questions are examined for the European Union and Finland through the Avoid–Shift–Improve framework. Though the limitations of technological reality are starting to undermine the climate-neutral growth narrative, the need for out-of-sector measures to bridge the gap is not addressed. The current focus on (future) technological solutions does, however, mean that the climate impact of aviation is likely to continue unabated in the near term.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00261-2 |
| spellingShingle | Emilia Suomalainen Growth over climate or aviation climate policy in the Avoid–Shift–Improve framework npj Climate Action |
| title | Growth over climate or aviation climate policy in the Avoid–Shift–Improve framework |
| title_full | Growth over climate or aviation climate policy in the Avoid–Shift–Improve framework |
| title_fullStr | Growth over climate or aviation climate policy in the Avoid–Shift–Improve framework |
| title_full_unstemmed | Growth over climate or aviation climate policy in the Avoid–Shift–Improve framework |
| title_short | Growth over climate or aviation climate policy in the Avoid–Shift–Improve framework |
| title_sort | growth over climate or aviation climate policy in the avoid shift improve framework |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00261-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT emiliasuomalainen growthoverclimateoraviationclimatepolicyintheavoidshiftimproveframework |