Although demand for air travel continues to grow, net zero aviation is within reach. Through philanthropic investment, we are accelerating the transition to a sustainable aviation sector that spares the climate and human health.
The challenge
If the aviation sector were a country, it would rank among the top 10 global emitters of greenhouse gasses, surpassing Brazil, Mexico, and the UK. Burning fossil jet fuel not only emits carbon dioxide but also releases byproducts including nitrogen oxides, water vapor, soot, and aerosols. At cruising altitude, these byproducts react with the atmosphere, amplifying their contributions to global warming.
Beyond its staggering climate impact, the aviation industry poses severe public health risks, disproportionately affecting communities of color and lower-income groups. Air pollution from air travel causes 16,000 premature deaths annually and is directly linked to heart disease, asthma, and elevated blood lead levels. For decades, industry workers, airport-adjacent communities, and military personnel have borne the brunt of harmful exhaust exposure. Decarbonizing the aviation industry is critical to safeguarding these communities.
We cannot afford to delay. As flight demand soars, unchecked fossil fuel emissions from aviation will intensify the climate crisis. Despite the urgent need, philanthropic funding for addressing aviation’s impact has been minimal. Now is the time to invest in transformative action that changes the trajectory of this high-emitting sector.
The opportunity
The aviation sector is at a critical turning point, and we have a unique opportunity to accelerate its transformation toward a net-zero future. To most effectively do so, we have gathered a community of aligned funders and are implementing a shared comprehensive philanthropic strategy for aviation. By bringing together climate philanthropy, airline industry leaders, civic society, and the scientific community, we are building a powerful coalition to achieve our shared goal of decarbonizing aviation.
One of the most promising pathways to net-zero aviation is the widespread adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which could deliver 65 percent of the CO2 reductions needed for the sector. Among SAF options, e-SAF stands out as the most viable long-term solution. Unlike biofuels, eSAF requires minimal land use and significantly reduces the public health burden on airport workers and frontline communities. We partner closely with our Carbon Dioxide Removal Program to explore the opportunity to use direct air capture technology to remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere and combine it with green hydrogen to create e-SAF that can be used in jet engines today. ClimateWorks has played a pivotal role in helping advance and promote the scaling of e-SAF adoption in Europe and the United States, laying the groundwork for global implementation
Equally critical is transforming how people engage with the aviation sector. Just 1% of the global population is responsible for 50% of emissions from flying, presenting a pivotal opportunity to drive significant pollution reductions. By shifting the behavior of this small but influential group, we can create a disproportionately large impact in reducing aviation emissions, protecting both vulnerable communities and the planet. At the same time, we must prioritize the voices and needs of frontline communities disproportionately impacted by aviation emissions. We are committed to co-creating strategies alongside these communities to reduce air pollution, eliminate air toxics, and scale SAF adoption. By combining behavioral change with equitable climate solutions, we can unlock a sustainable and inclusive future for aviation.
Our approach
There is no silver bullet to solve aviation’s climate and pollution impacts, rather a combination of solutions will be required. We focus on the decarbonization levers with the highest potential to get the sector to net zero:
Impact
These are the outcomes we’re working to achieve:
Where we work
To date, we have primarily supported action in Europe, the United States, and at the UN agency for aviation, the ICAO. However, as action on aviation expands globally, we are carefully building geographically relevant strategies in Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Africa.
