The carbon intensity of aviation more than halved between 1990 and 2021, to grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per passenger kilometer. These reductions have mainly been achieved through efficiency improvements from design and technology, rather than the amount of carbon emitted per unit of energy used for aviation, which has seen little change over the decades. This is due to the aviation industry still mainly using jet fuel rather than Sustainable Aviation Fuels that have a lower carbon intensity.
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OWID. (April 7, 2024). Carbon intensity of aviation worldwide from 1990 to 2021 (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per passenger kilometer) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 29, 2026, from /statistics/1500221/carbon-intensity-of-aviation-worldwide/
OWID. "Carbon intensity of aviation worldwide from 1990 to 2021 (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per passenger kilometer)." Chart. April 7, 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 29, 2026. /statistics/1500221/carbon-intensity-of-aviation-worldwide/
OWID. (2024). Carbon intensity of aviation worldwide from 1990 to 2021 (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per passenger kilometer). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 29, 2026. /statistics/1500221/carbon-intensity-of-aviation-worldwide/
OWID. "Carbon Intensity of Aviation Worldwide from 1990 to 2021 (in Grams of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent per Passenger Kilometer)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 7 Apr 2024, /statistics/1500221/carbon-intensity-of-aviation-worldwide/
OWID, Carbon intensity of aviation worldwide from 1990 to 2021 (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per passenger kilometer) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1500221/carbon-intensity-of-aviation-worldwide/ (last visited July 29, 2026)
Carbon intensity of aviation worldwide from 1990 to 2021 (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per passenger kilometer) [Graph], OWID, April 7, 2024. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1500221/carbon-intensity-of-aviation-worldwide/
