Question
What are the environmental impacts of the aviation industry on local communities?
Answer
The aviation industry significantly impacts local communities, primarily through emissions, noise, and land use changes. These effects are particularly pronounced near airports and flight paths.
Air Quality and Emissions
Aviation emissions, including CO, NOx, and particulate matter, deteriorate air quality around airports. These pollutants can infiltrate nearby residences, leading to higher indoor pollution levels comparable to those near highways (Hudda et al., 2020; Vinit, 2024).
Airport operations contribute to increased carbon emissions in cities, with new airport operations leading to a 4.3% rise in emissions (Xiong et al., 2023). This is exacerbated by the energy consumption of airport facilities, which can be substantial (Sperry and Bender, 2020).
Noise Pollution
Aircraft noise is a major concern for communities near airports, affecting quality of life and potentially leading to health issues. Noise insulation schemes are one approach to mitigate these impacts, though their effectiveness varies (Paraschi and Poulaki, 2021; Baggaley et al., 2023).
Land Use and Biodiversity
Airports can lead to significant land-use changes, affecting local ecosystems and biodiversity. The construction and operation of airports can displace plant and animal species and alter local habitats (Paraschi and Poulaki, 2021; Sperry and Bender, 2020).
Mitigation and Sustainability Efforts
The aviation industry is adopting measures to mitigate environmental impacts, such as implementing sustainable aviation fuels, improving energy efficiency, and adopting noise management strategies (Paraschi and Poulaki, 2021; Rupcic et al., 2023).
Efforts to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are underway, focusing on reducing emissions and promoting sustainable practices in airport operations (Sperry and Bender, 2020; Greer, Rakas and Horvath, 2020).
The aviation industry impacts local communities through air pollution, noise, and land use changes. While these effects pose significant challenges, ongoing efforts to improve sustainability and mitigate negative impacts are crucial for balancing the benefits of aviation with environmental and community health.
References
Hudda, N., Durant, L., Fruin, S., & Durant, J., 2020. Impacts of Aviation Emissions on Near-Airport Residential Air Quality.. Environmental science & technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c01859
Xiong, X., Song, X., Kaygorodova, A., Ding, X., Guo, L., & Huang, J., 2023. Aviation and carbon emissions: Evidence from airport operations. Journal of Air Transport Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2023.102383
Paraschi, E., & Poulaki, I., 2021. An Overview on Environmental Management in Aviation. Challenging Issues on Environment and Earth Science Vol. 7. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/ciees/v7/11732d
Sperry, R., & Bender, G., 2020. Airport buildings: A key opportunity for sustainability in aviation. Journal of Airport Management. https://doi.org/10.69554/onle9347
Vinit, V., 2024. Environmental Impact Of Aircraft Emissions. Poonam Shodh Rachna. https://doi.org/10.56642/brdu.v03i04.025
Greer, F., Rakas, J., & Horvath, A., 2020. Airports and environmental sustainability: a comprehensive review. Environmental Research Letters, 15. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abb42a
Baggaley, J., Acoustics, A., , L., Uk, L., Anderson, D., & , A., 2023. THE ROLE OF NOISE INSULATION SCHEMES IN AIRPORT NOISE MANAGEMENT. ACOUSTICS 2015. https://doi.org/10.25144/16089
Rupcic, L., Pierrat, E., Saavedra-Rubio, K., Thonemann, N., Ogugua, C., & Laurent, A., 2023. Environmental impacts in the civil aviation sector: Current state and guidance. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2023.103717
