ACACIA

Advancing the Science for Aviation and Climate

Aside from CO2 emissions, the aviation sector impacts the climate in several ways: ozone and methane changes from NOx emissions, contrails cirrus, and indirect aerosol effects. These effects are of similar magnitude as the impact of CO2 emissions. The EU-funded ACACIA project aimed at improving the scientific understanding of the non-CO2 effects, in particular, the indirect effect of aviation soot and aerosol on clouds. It identified the need for international measurement campaigns and strived to put all aviation effects on a common scale to provide an updated climate impact assessment. Finally, the project provided the knowledge basis and strategic guidance for future implementation of mitigation options, giving robust recommendations for no-regret strategies for reducing the climate impact of aviation.

The EU-H2020 project ACACIA ran for 4 years from January 2020 to February 2024, including an extension of 8 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.