Surge in Air Freight Emissions: A 25% Increase Since 2019 Linked to Post-Pandemic Shifts and E-commerce Boom

Air freight operators have seen a dramatic rise in greenhouse gas emissions, with a 25% increase compared to 2019, according to a recent analysis by the campaign group Stand.earth. The study reveals that in 2023, air freight operators conducted approximately 300,000 more flights than in 2019, marking an almost 30% rise in flight volume. The United States alone accounted for over 40% of global air freight emissions.

Dr. Devyani Singh, one of the authors of the analysis, described this expansion as “a new climate and human health threat” and called on air freight companies to “end their reliance on air cargo and shift freight shipments to lower-carbon modes of transport such as marine shipping or rail.” Air freight is known to produce around 80 times more carbon emissions than shipping by sea or truck, making it one of the most carbon-intensive transportation methods available.

Drivers of the Emissions Increase
Researchers attribute the sharp increase in air freight emissions to significant shifts in the post-pandemic economy and evolving consumer expectations in e-commerce, where rapid shipping has become the norm. Amazon’s Prime membership program, which boasts over 200 million users globally, exemplifies this trend. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, air freight was primarily used for perishable goods, time-sensitive deliveries, and luxury items. However, pandemic-era supply chain disruptions led to an unprecedented rise in the air transport of non-perishable and lower-value goods.

Cargo-Only Fleets and Belly Cargo
The report points to a twofold reason for the surge in emissions. Initially, cargo was typically transported in the belly of passenger planes. During the pandemic, a drop in consumer demand for international air travel led to the expansion of cargo-only fleets. These fleets have remained in operation even as belly cargo emissions have returned to nearly 90% of their 2019 levels.

By 2023, air freight emissions reached 93.8 million tonnes, a 25% increase from 2019 levels. FedEx and UPS were significant contributors, responsible for 24.7% of the industry’s carbon emissions in 2023. The aviation sector heavily relies on fossil fuels, with 99.8% of aviation fuel derived from these sources, and low-carbon alternatives remain a distant prospect.

Future Projections and Industry Growth
Research published last year projected that global annual parcel volume could skyrocket to 800 billion parcels by 2030, up from 315 billion in 2022. The air freight sector continues to experience robust growth, with Amazon reporting a 13% increase in revenues from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024.

This trend underscores the urgent need for the air freight industry to adopt more sustainable practices and explore lower-carbon transportation options to mitigate its environmental impact.

Source: The Guardian