ABSTRACT
There has been a growing interest in the environmental impact of aviation, both in terms of noise and aircraft engine emissions. Climate change has been the particular focus following the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and subsequent Kyoto Protocol. The need for action at a global level has been further supported by more recent studies, for example from the UK Stern Report. Reduction of aero-engine and aircraft noise has been achieved over the past 30 years by means of imposing stricter standards for the certification of new aircraft. Landing and take-off noise abatement procedures are applied at many European airports. Previous estimates of aviation's contribution to climate change from CO2 emissions have not separated out air cargo from aviation in general. Air cargo's current contribution to global emissions is inflated by both operational and regulatory constraints. Environmental taxes are difficult to introduce internationally because they tend to be prohibited under Air Services Agreements.
